MANUAL OF NATUKAL HISTORY. 473 



leaves mostly alternate, stipulate ; vernation 

 involute ; inflorescence various ; sepals five, 

 persistent, equal ; aestivation imbricated ; 

 petals five, equal or unequal ; aestivation 

 obliquely convolute ; stamens five, alternate ; 

 anthers introrse ; filaments dilated ; ovary 

 1 -celled j ovules anatropal ; placentae parie- 

 tal ; style single ; stigma oblique-hooded ; 

 fruit capsular, 3-valved ; albumen fleshy. 

 The herbaceous species are more abundant in 

 northern temperate countries, while those 

 which are shrubby inhabit South America 

 and India. 



7. Family. — Ben-nuts (Moringaceae). Trees ; leaves 



2-3-pinnate, stipulate ; flowers irregular, in 

 loose panicles ; calyx 5-partite ; petals five, 

 unequal; stamens 8-10, perigynous; fila- 

 ments rather petaloid ; anthers 1 -celled ; 

 ovary 1 -celled; placentae parietal ; ovules ana- 

 tropal ; style filiform ; stigma simple ; fruit 

 capsular, pod-like, 1 -celled, 3-valved : seeds 

 numerous; albumen none. Natives of Arabia 

 and India. The seeds of Moringa ptery- 

 gosperma are the " Ben-nuts " of authors ; 

 they yield a fluid oil named " Oil of Ben/' 



8. Family. — Crovjn-worts (Malesherbiaceae). Herbs 



or half-shrubs ; leaves alternate, exstipulate ; 

 flowers axillary or terminal, solitary ; calyx 

 tubular, 5-lobed; aestivation imbricate ; petals 

 five, alternate, coronetted, persistent, aestiva- 

 tion convolute; stamens 5-10, perigynous; 



