No. 438.] NORTH ERX GAM OPE TA L OL'S FLOWERS. 



The Gentianales include six families. The olive family, or 

 Oleaceae, contain two white, one purple and seven green Mowers. 

 The green flowers belong to Fraxinus (ash) and are the result of 

 retrogression, as a part of the species have lost both calyx and 

 corolla and are wind-fertilized, while others still retain the peri- 

 anth. The common lilac {Syringa vulgaris) exhibits a great 

 variety of beautiful shades including white, red, purple and blue. 

 Showy yellow Mowers occur in Forsythia. 



The Loganiace;e represent the stem-form of the order Genti- 

 anales. The presence of stipules distinguishes it from all of the 

 other families of this order. The genera are synthetic in char- 

 acter and exhibit affinities in many different directions. Here 

 are found the ancestral types of the Gentianacex-, Apocynaceae 

 and Asclepiadaceas, as well as of the Scrophulariaceas and of 

 the Rubiacece. The family is abundant in tropical regions but 

 in the Northern States is represented by only four species; one 

 of which is yellow, two white and one red. Our species are 

 related most closely to the Rubiaceae. The bird Mower Spigelia 

 marilandica (Maryland pink root) is scarlet outside, and yellow 



The gen 



of Switzerland the traveller is delighted by the vi\ 

 blue coloring displayed by the gentians. Red-flovi 

 occur in the Andes. Muller regards (ioituvia In 

 senting the primitive form of this genus. The r< 

 are yellow with slender pointed petals, which are 

 united. The honey is fully exposed to beetles and 

 as to bees, but so few are the visitors that the pi 

 to dispense with spontaneous self-fertilization. Tl 

 shaped flowers have been evolved by bumblebees. 



