286 
Mr Don on the Natural Family 
not having seen specimens of the species he has indicated, 
has been obliged to trust to Willdenow, whose descriptions, 
especially what relates to the fructification, are extremely 
incorrect. In forming the following characters of the order and 
genera, the greater part of the species have been carefully exa- 
mined. This I think it important to state, as it will shew how 
far the results are to be depended on. — I shall now proceed 
to give the character of the order. 
Nat Ord. POLEMONIACEiE, Juss. 
Calyx tubulosus, 5-fidus aut 5-dentatus. 
Corolla rotata v. hypocrateriformis aut saepius infundibulifor- 
mis, limbo 5-loba : lobis in sestivatione imbricatis. 
Stamina 5, corollae tubo nunc infra nunc supra medium inserta. 
Aniherce sagittatae, incumbentes, biloculares. 
Ovarium simplex, semper triloculare, integrum : ovulis nume- 
rosi^ raro definitis. Stylus longissimus. Stigma triplex : 
lobis linearibus, obtusis. 
Capsida 3-locularis, 3-valvis, oblonga, trigona, rarius globosa : 
valvis margine appositis, intus medio septiferis, membrana- 
ceis aut rarius (in Cantud) crassiusculis, crustaceis. Placenta 
trigona, centralis, cujus angulis septa applicata. 
Semina convexa, angulata, nuda aut compressa margine mem- 
brana cincta : Testa simplex, membranacea, superficie muci- 
laginosa : Albumen carnosum, semini conforme. 
Embryo rectus, magnus: Cotyl. planae, orbiculatae v. ovales, 
subfoliaceae : Radicula infera, crassiuscula, obtusa, recta, 
saepius cotyledonibus brevier. 
Herbae v. Frutices, scepius ramosoe. Folia alterna aut rariils 
(in Phlox) opyosita, exstipulata^ indivisa v. pmnatifida. Flo- 
res terminales, numerosi aut axillares, subsolitarii^ in qui- 
husdam bracteati. 
Obs. An ordini huic admittenda parurii mutato charactere 
LfEselia ? Polemoniaceis in multis accedunt Convolvulaceae ; 
sed tamen ordinem abimde diversum hae constituunt, et ab 
iisdem maxim e discrepant stigmate simplici v. duplici, capsid ae 
valvis intus medio nudis septo iisdem marginibus applicato, 
placentd centrali nulla, seminibus albumine parco valde fragili 
