MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY, 415 



monopetalous ; stamens opposite petals ; an- 

 ther-cells cut transversely ; ovary 1 -celled ; 

 stalk of placentae much lengthened during 

 ripening, being converted into a false funi- 

 culus ; fruit fleshy, follicular when ripe; seeds 

 exalbuminous. Composed of a single genus 

 inhabiting tropical shores. 



2. Family. — Ardisiads (Myrsinacese). Trees, 



shrubs, or under-shrubs ; stem woody; leaves 

 alternate or opposite, coriaceous, smooth, ex- 

 stipulate ; inflorescence in umbels, corymbs, 

 or panicles, mostly axillary ; flowers small, 

 white or red, occasionally unisexual ; calyx 

 and corolla 4-5 -cleft ; stamens opposite petals ; 

 anthers sagittate ; ovary free or partially ad- 

 herent ; fruit drupaceous, indehiscent ; seeds 

 angular or roundish. Found in Asia, Africa, 

 and America, in Bourbon, the Isle of France, 

 Madagascar, the Azores, Canaries, and Ma- 

 deira, and in New Zealand. 



3. Family. — Primroses (Primulacese). Herbaceous, 



or under-shrubs, annual or perennial ; leaves 

 usually radical, opposite, exstipulate; flowers 

 on simple or umbellate scapes ; calyx and 

 corolla 5- rarely 4-cleft ; stamens opposite 

 segments ; ovary 1 -celled ; style one j fruit 

 capsular, valvate, many-seeded; seeds nu- 

 merous, peltate. Occur principally in the 

 Northern Hemisphere, in temperate and cold 

 regions ; in the tropics they inhabit sea-shores 

 or lofty situations. Some occur in Australia. 



