156 BOTANY. 
Momordica balsaminea, Balsam apple (East Indies) (pl. 71, fig. 12); a. - 
branch with flowers and fruit; 0, male flower; c, do. without corolla; d, 
female flower; e, cross-section of the young fruit; f, the fruit burst open ; 
g, aseed; h, do. without the testa; 7, cross-section of do. 
Bryonia alba (Europe) (pl. 71, fig. 13); A, branch with male, B, do. with 
female flowers; C, root; a, male flower; b, do. expanded ; c-d, stamens ; 
e, female flower ; f, do. with the corolla cut away; g, stigma; A, fruit; 1, 
cross-section of do. ; k, seed. 
Orper 142. Loasacrea, the Chili Nettle Family. Calyx four- or five- 
parted, persistent, spreading in estivation. Petals five, cucullate, epigynous, 
alternate with the segments of the calyx, sometimes with an inner row of 
five, which are either similar to the outer or dissimilar ; zestivation inflexed, - 
valvate, or twisted. Stamens in several rows, distinct, or polyadelphous, 
each parcel being opposite the outer petals; filaments subulate, unequal, the 
outer ones often sterile. Ovary inferior, one-celled, with parietal placentas ; 
ovules anatropal; styles combined into one; stigma one or several. Fruit 
capsular, or succulent, one-celled. Seeds without an arillus; embryo 
straight, in the axis of fleshy albumen; cotyledons small, flat; embryo 
pointing to the hilum. Herbaceous plants, hispid with stinging hairs, 
having opposite or alternate exstipulate leaves, and axillary one-flowered 
peduncles. They are American plants, chiefly distinguished for their 
stinging qualities, and hence the name of Chili Nettle. There are fifteen 
genera enumerated by Lindley, including seventy species. Examples: 
Loasa, *Mentzelia, Gronovia, *Cevallia. In North America there are of 
this order, Mentzelia with tweive, and Cevallia with one species. 
Orper 143. Hatoracacea, the Mares-tail Family. Calyx with a minute 
limb, which is either three- or four-divided or entire; it 1s sometimes 
reduced to amere rim. Petals epigynous or 0. Stamens epigynous, equal ° 
in number to the petals, or twice as many, rarely fewer; when the petals 
are wanting, stamens often one or two. Ovary cohering with the tube of 
the calyx, with one or more cells, sometimes tetragonal or compressed 
Style 0, what is frequently called the styles being the papulose stigmas, 
which are equal in number to the cells; ovules pendulous, anatropal. 
Fruit dry, indehiscent, membranous or bony, with one or more cells. Seed 
solitary or in pairs, pendulous; albumen fleshy or thin; embryo straight, or 
slightly curved, in the axis of the albumen; cotyledons minute; radicle 
superior, long. Herbs, or undershrubs, often aquatic, with large air 
cavities, having alternate, opposite, or whorled leaves, and axillary, sessile 
flowers, which are occasionally unisexual. They are found in ditches and 
lakes in various parts of the world. They have no properties of 
importance. There are eight known genera, and about seventy species. 
Examples: *Hippuris, Myriophyllum, Haloragis, Callitriche, *Proserpinaca. 
North American species twelve. 
Orver 144. Onacrace#, the Evening Primrose Family. Calyx tubular, 
the limb having usually four, sometimes two, three, or six divisions, which 
cohere in various ways; estivation valvate. Petals usually equal in 
number to the calycine segments, regular (rarely irregular), inserted into 
156 
