Order 34. CUCURBITACE/E. " In this order there are, properly, no trees. Some of the plants indeed have a climbing, woody, perennial stem ; others a perennial root only ; whilst others again are entirely of annual duration. Leaves in all alternate, simple, always accompanied at their origin by sti pules. There are mostly glands, either on the foot stalks, at the base of the leaf, or on its disk. All have tendrils, by which they climb if they have any opportunity; otherwise they are procumbent. These plants seem akin to the Sarmentacece, order 11th ; but the latter have a twining stem, these not ; they are monocotyledonous, these dicotyledonous ; they are destitute of tendrils, with which these are furnished. The calyx is either of five leaves, or five deep seg ments. Corolla of one petal, in five deep divisions, but so much cut, in many instances, that it is scarce ly possible, but from analogy, to say whether it con sists of one or five petals. The stamens are inserted, not into the receptacle, but into the interior surface of the calyx, to which also the corolla is attached. Their filaments are often five, but frequently so com bined as to appear three only. So also the anthers are often connected, the summit of one to the base of another, making a continued serpentine line. The style is of considerable thickness, with three, fre quently cloven, stigmas. Fruit internally of three cells, fleshy, and somewhat juicy. The seeds are, for the most part, capable of being kept for a long time, though they appear of a dry nature ; but that they are not really so, is evident from the emulsions prepared from some seeds of this tribe. Gardeners think them better for keeping. The sex of the flowers is, in several cases, distinct, and either mo noecious or dioecious. The whole order is noxious and foetid, hence it affords some of the most violent medicines, as Colocynth and Elaterium. Even me lons themselves, if taken too plentifully, are said to be injurious, though in ripening they part with much of their unwholesome quality." The genera are Gronovia, Anguria, Elaterium, Sicyos, Melothria, Bryonia, Cucurbita, Cucumis, Trichosanthes, Mo mordica, Feuillea, a Zannonia, Passiflora. " The last affords some of the most beautiful of all flowers ; many of them are fragrant." Order 35. SENTICOSI. The briar and bramble tribe. The genera are Alchemilla, Aphanes, Agri mania, Dryas, Geum, Sibbaldia, Tormentilla, Poten tills, Comarum, Fragaria, Rafts, Rosa. Poterium and Sanguisorba are inserted at the head of this list, in the Linniean manuscript. See the following or der.
stance, the part in question seems inferior, but is in fact the contrary, for the seeds are really inserted into the inner side of the calyx, exactly as in Mespi lus, with this difference only, that in the latter they are imbedded in the pulp, which fills the calyx. The segments of the calyx are mostly in a double series, 'the innermost largest, the outer alternate therewith, and smaller, answering to the petals.. Stamens tor the most part numerous, but Sibbaldia, Alchemilla, and Aphanes form an exception, the first having five the two last only four," (or even fewer). "The pistils vary in number. There is nothing acrid in the whole order, nor much fragrance ; there is much of a styptic, little of a mucilaginous quality ; nothing poisonous; so that, if the fruits are worth tasting, they may certainly be eaten with impu nity." Order 37. COLUMNIFER/E. " So called, not be cause the author meant to express, in the name, the essential character, but in allusion to some distin guished examples of this order, whose stamens are united into a columnar form. Linnaeus was really the founder of the order in question, though Tourne fort endeavoured to keep together as many of the same plants as possible, under his Monopetali Cam paniformes. But the corolla has five petals, though they all fall off in one body, being .connected with the combined stamens. Some have been denomi nated akin to Malvacece ; indeed many of the class Monadelphia belong to this tribe." " The root in all these plants is fibrous, in no in stance bulbous or tuberous. Stem often herbaceous, but there are many arboreous, and amongst others the kinds of Bombax, or Silk Cotton, almost the largest trees in the world. Some of these only bear spines ; but some species of Hibiscus are prickly. There is scarcely a perfectly smooth plant in the whole order. They have all stipules, in pairs. The leaves are alternate, never opposite ; in numerous in stances stalked ; plaited in the bud ; and, what is remarkable, many of them have glandular pores un der the rib. No tendrils are found in the order. The inflorescence is various. Calyx in several sim ple and five-cleft, but in some genera double, as Melva, Ake°, Althaa, Lavatera, Malope, Gossy pium and Hibiscus. Petals generally five, but as they often adhere to the united filaments, the corolla seems monopetalous. This adhesion contradicts the opinion of Valliant, who has said that stamens are never inserted but into a monopetalous corolla. Their connected claws often form a nectary between them. The corolla is somewhat abrupt, and twisted contrary to the sun's motion. Pistils usually corre sponding in number to the parts of the fruit ; as do the stigmas, where the style is simple. Turnera has as many styles, as there are cells in the capsule. The fruit is always superior, but differs in different genera. Maim, Akea, Althaa, Lavatera and Ma lope, have numerous capsules, ranged like a wheel round the base of the style ; nor is the latter placed upon, but in the midst of, them, as in the Asperi order 41. Each capsule is single-seeded, and falls of with the seed ; which is likewise the case in Urena ; such seed-vessels might perhaps rather be named arilli, or tunics, as they burst at their inner side. Many of this order have solitary seeds in their cells, or capsules, like the above, and the genus Ayenia ; but many others are polyspermous, as Bombe.; Hibiscus, Theobronsa, &c. A few of the _limners produce woolly seeds, as Bombes and GM.