Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 06.djvu/258

* DICOTYLEDONS. 218 DICTATOR. play their parts in lives or fours or their multi- ples. Two great groups of (licotylcdoiis are recog- nized— tlie Archiehlamydea- and the Sniypetala-. In the former there is either no perianth (calyx and corolla), or its i)arts are separate (polypet- alous) ; in the latter the corolla is sympetalous (petals coalesced). Formerly the Archiihlaniy- dea? were divided into two groups — the ApetaUe, in which there are no petals! and the Polypetala!, in which petals are present: hut this division has been found to lie too artificial to stand, as several natural families have both apetalous and polypetalous members. ARCiiiciiLAMYnE.E. These are the simpler and more primitive dicotyledons, and eonUxin about 40,000, or one-half "of the known sjmies of dicotyledons, distributed among about 100 families. The prominent alliances may be given as follows: (1) A great tree assemblage, promi- nent in which are the oak, hickory, walnut, chestnut, beech, poplar, elm, willow, etc. These plants are probably the most primitive of the dicotvledons. a fact indicated by the simplicity of their lloral structures ami by their anemophi- lous (wind-pollinating I habit. (See Poluxa- Tiox.) Prominent in the group also is the char- acteristic inllorescence known as the anient (q.v.) or catkin; and it is among its members alone that chalazogamy (q.v.) has been discovered. (2) The buttercups and their allies, a great as- semblage of terrestrial herbs, including water- lilies, buttercups, poppies, and mustards: certain notable tree forms, as the magnolias, custard- apples, sassafras, etc.; and also the strange "roup of •carnivorous plants' (Sarracenia, Dro- sera, Dion-ta, etc.). (3) The rose family (Rosa- cea?), which is one of the Iwst-known and most useful groups of the temperate regions, includ- ing such forms as the strawberry. rasplM>rry, blackbcrrv, rose, hawthorn, apple, pear, cpiince, plum, cherry, peach, etc. (4) The legume fam- ily (l,eguminos:r). which is far the greatest fam- ily of the Archichlamydeie. which contains about 10.000 species, and with flowers elaborately con- structod for insect pollination. Here belong the ■ lupine, clover, locust, pea, bean, vetch, redbud. senna, honev-locust. indigo, sensitive plants, etc. (5) The uniliellifer family (rnibcllifera>) . which is the most highly organiwd of the Arclii- chlamydeie. and contains such well-known forms as the" carrot, parsnip, hemlock, pepper-and-salt, caraway, fennel, coriander, celery, parsley, etc. SvMPET.VL.F. Tills group is evidently derived from the ArchichlamviUw. and contains the most highlv organizcil of plants. Older names of the group are 'Monoiietahe' and 'Onmopetabe.' The group contains about 10.000 species, distributed among ."lO families. Among the prominent alli- ances are the following: (1) The heath family (Kricaeeie). which consists mostly of shrubby plants, and which contains such forms as huckle- berry, blueberry, cranberry, bearberry. trailing ar- liulis. wintcrgiicn. licalhir. azalea, rliododendron, Indian pipe, etc (2) The Convolvulus forms and their allies, in which the flowers are prom- inent ly tubular, including the morning-glory, pole- moniiim. |ihlo-. gentian, dogbane, etc. (3) The mint family (Labiata-) and its allies, contain- ing about 10.000 species, and characterized by the irrcirular two-lipped flowers. Here belong the mint, dittany, hyssop, marjoram, thyme, balm, sage, catnip, horehound. lavender, rosemary, etc. In allied families are the night>hade, potato, tomato, tobacco, mullein, snapdragon, toad- llax, painted-cup. verbena, plantain, etc. (4) The Composita-, the greatest and ranking family of the angiosperms. is estimated to contain at least 12.000 sjiecies. The name of the family suggests the most conspicuous features — namely, the organization of the numerous small flowers into a compact head, which resembles a single flower, formerly called a 'compound flower.' Among the very numerous forms arc arnica, thistle, dandelion, lickseed, beggar-ticks, Spanish needles, ironweed, aster, daisy, goldenrod. rosin- wcH'd, sunflower, chrysanthemum, ragweed, cockle- bur. oN-eyc daisy, tansy, sagebrush, lettuce, etc. DICTAMTITJS. See Dittany. DICTATOR (Lat.. from dictarc. to dictate, /reciucMtative of Jirrrc, to say). In the earliest times, tlie name of the highest magistrate of the Latin confederation; and in some of the Latin towns the title was continued long after these towns were subjcited to the dominion of Kome. In the Roman Republic the Dictator was an extraordinary magistrate, irresponsible and en- dowed with "absolute authority, whose original name was magistcr /lo/ju/i. The frequency of crises, or critical periods, in the quick, .aggressive growth of the Roman State, necessitated such an olVice. The first Dictator (T. Larcius or M. alcrius) was appointed in n.c. .'lOl. nine years after the expulsion of the Tarquins. According to Livv. the iiumediatc cause of this dictatorship was a" formidable war with the Latins. In gen- eral no one could be appointed Dictator who had not been previously consul, and this condi- tion was very rarely dis|K'nsed with. It is possible that the Dictator was originally created or elected by the curia?, like the kings; but it is more "probable that the Senate passed a decree ordering one of the consuls to name or proclaim (din-re) a dictator. Originally, of course, the Dictator was a patrician; the first plebeian who filled the office being Marcius Ru- tilus (B.C. S-'id). who was nominated by the ' plebeian consul, -M. Popillins La>nas. The die- tatoi-ship could not lawfully lie held hmger than six months: nor was it ever so, except in the cases of Sulla and C:Tsar. which were altogether peculiar. It must not he supposed that during a dictatorship the functions of the other magis- trates were positively suspended. The consuls and other regular authorities continued to dis- charge their proper duties, but in subordination to the direction and command of the Dictator, iK'ing for the time simply his oflficers. The su- IH'rioritv of his power, when comimred with that of the "consuls, appears chiefly in these three points: He was far more independent of the Senate: he had a more extensive power of pun- ishment, without any appeal; and he could not be called to account" after his abdication of the dictatorship for anything he had done during the period of his oflice. The limits of his ]>over were as follows: He couhl not touch the treas- ury: he coulil not leave Italy: and he could not ride through Rome on horseback without pre- viouslv obtaining the permission of the people. While' the consuls had only twelve lictors, the Dictator was preceded by twenty-four, liearing the secures and fnsccs. To him also belonged the sella curulis and the topn pra-lexta. The last