



130 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 

elegant. The following are Dr. Lindley’s observations on the botanical construction of this species :—‘‘ The 
little glands that are seated upon the petiole between each pair of pinne are of a highly curious character ; they 
have the form of a minute cup, and seem as if they were destined to expose some portion of the inner substance of 
the petiole to the action of the light and air, but for what purpose we are ignorant.” 

CHAPTER XXV. 
—_<.— 
ONAGRACEA Lindl. 
EssentiaL Cuaracter.—Tube of the calyx adnate to the ovarium the | that number; filaments free, filiform; anthers oblong or ovate. 
whole length, or only adhering to it at the base, and drawn out beyond | Ovary many-celled, usually crowned by a cup-shaped gland. Style 
the ovarium at the apex; limb from two to four-lobed, but usually four- 
lobed ; lobes valvate in estivation, Petals equal in number to the lobes 
of the calyx, and alternating with them, for the most part regular, twisted 
in estivation, inserted in the top of the tube of the calyx, rarely wanting. 
Stamens sometimes equal in number to the petals, but usually twice 
filiform. Stigma capitate or lobed. Fruit capsular, baccate or drupa- 
ceous, two or four-celled. Seeds many in each cell, rarely solitary, 
fixed to the central placenta, Albumen wanting, but the endopleura 
is sometimes tumid, and appearing like albumen. Embryo straight, 
(G. Don.) 
with a long terete radicle and two short cotyledons. 
Description, &c.—The characteristic of this order which is the most simple and the most easily 
remembered is, that all the parts of the flower are in fours or twice four, and not in fives or twice five, as is 
generally the case in most other flowers: as for example, most flowers have five petals to the corolla, and five 
sepals to the calyx ; but in all the plants included in this order there are four petals and four sepals, and either 
four or eight stamens. The seed-vessel is also not inclosed in the corolla of the flower, but placed below it in 
what is called the tube of the calyx. -There are several other botanical marks of distinction, but those which 
have been mentioned are the most simple, and easily understood. The name of the order is said to be derived 
from Onager, the old Greek name for Ginothera, which is one of the genera included in the order. 
GENUS I. 
FUCHSIA Plum. THE FUCHSIA. 
Lin. Syst. OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

Generic Caaracter.—Tube cf the calyx adhering to the ovarium 
at the base, and drawn out at the apex into a cylindrical four-cleft 
tube, whose lobes soon fall off. Petals four, alternating with the lobes 
wanting. Stamens eight. Ovarium crowned by an urceolate gland. 
Style filiform, crowned by a capitate stigma. 
globose, four-valved, four-celled, many-seeded. 
Berry oblong or ovate- 
(G. Don.) 
of the calyx, and inserted in the upper part of the tube, very rarely 
Description, &c.—The flowers of the Fuchsia are so well known that it seems scarcely necessary to describe 
their general form; but yet there are some botanical peculiarities in them which it may be necessary to mention. 
On looking at the flower it will be observed to consist of a green shining portion close to the stem or footstalk of 
the flower, which portion is, in fact, the incipient seed-vessel. Next to this is the tube of the calyx, which is 
generally red, and, consequently, is frequently mistaken for the corolla, particularly as beyond the tube is what is 
called the limb, which is divided into four petal-like sepals. Below these are seen the real petals, which are 
generally purple. In some of the species the tube of the calyx is very short (as in F’. microphylla), while in others 
(such as F’. fulgens) it is extremely long. In some species (as in F’. macrostema) the stamens project far beyond 
the rest of the flower; and in others they are inclosed by the petals so as not to be perceptible. These striking 


