The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XII, No. 2, 
416 
MYRTIFLORAE. 
Epigynous plants usually with large showy flowers, with or 
without a prominent hypanthium; more commonly choripetalous, 
but sometimes sympetalous or completely apetalous; ovules 
commonly numerous. 
Synopsis. 
I. Fleshy usually prickly and spiny plants with jointed stems and 
reduced leaves; perianth segments usually very numerous. 
Cactales. 
II. Herbs, shrubs or trees not spiny like the preceding; calyx- 
segments rarely more than 5. 
1. Petals usually present, choripetalous; sometimes apetalous 
or sympetalous. 
a. Flowers usually bisporangiate, placentae usually axile 
or apical, rarely basal. Myrtales. 
b. Flowers bisporangiate or monosporangiate ; placentae 
usually parietal; mostly herbs or herbaceous vines. 
Loasales. 
2. Petals usually absent ; if present either choripetalous or 
sympetalous. 
a. Ovulary with several cavities, usually 6- locular; 
herbs or vines. Aristolochiales. 
b. Ovulary unilocular; mostly parasitic herbs or shrubs. 
Santalales. 
HETEROMERAE. 
Low, often evergreen, shrubs, trees, or herbs usually with 
hypogynous flowers which are usually sympetalous but sometimes 
choripetalous; perianth usually regular or nearly so inserted on 
the floral axis; stamens united with the corolla or free, usually as 
many or twice as many as the corolla-lobes; carpels usually 5-3. 
Synopsis. 
I. Ovulary mostly unilocular and usually with a free central 
placenta; stamens opposite the petals or more numerous, 
united with the corolla, mostly herbs. Primulales. 
II. Ovulary mostly 2-or more locular or with parietal placentae; 
herbs, shrubs, or trees. 
1. Stamens mostly free from the corolla, alternate with its 
lobes or twice as many; seeds minute; flowers bispo- 
rangiate, hypogynous, sometimes choripetalous. Ericales. 
2. Stamens united with the corolla, opposite its lobes or 
twice as many or more; seeds usually solitary or few, 
usually large; flowers hypogynous or sometimes epi- 
gynous, sometimes choripetalous. Ebenales. 
