Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/224

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY-

Sphenoclea pongatium (D. C.) Natural size.

1. An unopened flower.

2. A flower further advanced with its bract and bracteoles.

3. A flower freely expanded, but the relative position of its parts not accurately preserved, the lobes of the corolla being placed too nearly opposite the lobes of the calyx.

4. A corolla detached, and 5. Split open, showing the insertion of the stamens.

6. Detached stamens, back and front views.

7. Capsule, enclosed in the persistent calyx.

8. Calyx opened to show the line of dehiscence of the circumscissile capsule.

Unnumbered figure beside the anthers — top of

the capsule seen from within.

9. Capsule transversely, two-celled.

10. An old capsule, after shedding its seed, showing the remains of the spongy, pendulous placentae.

11. A seed. 12. Cut vertically, showing the embryo in situ.

13. Embryo detached.

This is a beautiful family, including upwards of 200 species of shrubby or arboreous plants. They are for the most part extra-tropical; those found within the tropics being natives of alpine regions, where elevation compensates for the lower temperature of higher latitudes. In Southern India three or four species only have been detected, but it seems probable more will yet be found when we are better acquainted with their distinguishing characters. Three are natives of the Neilgherries; one, perhaps distinct, is found on the Shervaroys, near Salem, and another, but not distinct from one of the Neilgherry ones, on the Pulney Hills. The same may be said of one found in Ceylon. On the Khassya Mountains, bordering Upper Assam, they are numerous, and there, the late Mr. Griffith wrote me, several of them are parasitical — a peculiarity one, only acquainted with the terrestrial forms, could scarcely anticipate ; but perhaps he meant epiphytical.

Character of the Order. Calyx superior, entire, or with from 4 to 6 lobes. Corolla imbricated in aestivation, monopetalous, lobed as often as the calyx. Stamens distinct, double the number of the lobes of the corolla, inserted into an epigynous disk; anthers with two horns and two cells, bursting by pores. Ovary inferior, 4- to 10-celled; style simple; stigma simple. Berry crowned by the persistent limb of the calyx, succulent, 4-10-celled; cells 1- or many-seeded. Seeds minute, pendulous when solitary; embryo straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen; cotyledons very short; radicle long, inferior. Much branched, shrubs or trees, frequently evergreen, and occasionally epiphytes. Leaves alternate, undivided, without sti- pules, often with glandular notches. Flowers solitary or in racemes. Lindley.

On this head there is considerable diversity of opinion, some Botanists, among whom Endlicher now takes the lead, uniting this order and Ericacece, others, and they forming the majority, considering the two families distinct, but so closely related, that they are always placed next each other, under the impression that the distinguishing features, the adherent ovary of the one, and the free one of the other, do not afford ground for a wider separation. Dr. Lindley, however, has recently taken a different view, and widely separated them by placing the one in his Hypogynous class, and the other in his Epigynous, with the whole of the Perigynous one interposed. He considers them more nearly allied to Cinchonacece than Ericacece, an arrangement in which, I apprehend, he will find but few followers. For myself, I feel disposed to coincide with Endlicher, from viewing the adherence, or non-adherence of the calyx, when placed in opposition to such striking peculiarities as those which unite these two families, as of secondary value, and one which, in such a case, ought not to be so strongly in- sisted on. The distinguishing feature of both orders is found in the curious, nay, unique structure of the anthers, common to both, but not elsewhere observed, and which, as will be seen on reference to the accompanying plates, is very remarkable.

Apart from that character, there can scarcely be a doubt that Vacciniacece are very nearly related to both Caprifoliacece and Cinchonacece, and may be viewed as their representatives in the Hypogynous sub-class. Ericacece, in like manner, though a Hypogynous family, becomes