T E T R A D Y N A M I A. 
145 
C L A S S XV. 
T E T R A D Y N A M I A. 
The plants of this clafs are fuppof^d to have four of their 
ftamina of more efficacy than the reft^ and are always known 
by having the four efficacious fla?nina longer than the others. 
The general charaolers are as follow : The cup is of an 
oblong figure,, compofed of four oval,, oblong hollow,, obtufe 
leaves,, converging towards one another,, and are gibbous 
at the bafe',, thefe all fall off with the flower and ft and in 
parrs,, the oppojite ones being always equal in length *, the 
cup is properly the netlariurn of the plant,, and it is on this 
occafion that it is gibbous at the bafe. The flower is of 
a cruciform kind, and confijls of four equal petals, which 
have ungues of the length of the cup, erect, and fiat *, the 
petals are broad at the top, obtufe and fcarce touch one 
another at the fides, and the infer tion of the petals and 
ftamina is in the fame place. The ftamina are fix fubula- 
ted, ereEl filamynts, the two oppofite ones arre of the length 
of the cup, the other four are fomething longer, and are of 
a lejs length, however, than the petals. The anthers are 
oblong and pointed, thick at the bafe and ereB, with 
apices bending fidew ays. The neBariferous gland in the 
different genera of the clafs, is differently fituated. It 
ufually however is found near the ftamina, and mofi fre- 
quently of all is affixed to fome Jhort filaments, and ftands 
near their bafe. Two of the fiarmina are often curved 
that they may not prefs upon the gland \ a7id it is often 
owing to this that two are fhorter than the reft. The ger- 
men of the piftil is placed above the receptacle, and is eve- 
ry day in its growth raifed higher and higher. The fiyle 
is fometimes wanting, but in fuch plants as have it, it is 
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