=1.= _Parnassia_ (about 14 species; _P. palustris_, Grass of
Parnassus). The flower is slightly perigynous, and has S5, P5, 5
fertile sepal-stamens, and 5 petal-stamens, which are developed as
barren staminodes, palmately-lobed, and (3–) 4 carpels united in a
1-locular ovary with (3–) 4 parietal placentæ. Capsule.--~Protandrous.
The flower has a slightly oblique plane of symmetry, which is
especially shown during its development and in the order of sequence
in which the anthers dehisce: originally they lie closely round the
gynœceum; the anthers dehisce extrorsely, first the one which is placed
opposite the most external sepal (the 2/5 arrangement is very distinct
in the calyx), the filament elongating so that the anther lies over
the ovary, and this is followed successively by the 4 others in a
zig-zag line; the filaments bend backwards after the pollen is shed
and the anthers drop off, and the stigmas are not developed until this
is completed. The barren stamens are palmately divided into an uneven
number (7, 9, 11) of lobes, tapering from the centre towards the edge,
and bearing apparently glandular tips; their gland-like appearance is
supposed to allure flies to visit the flower, or they may act as a kind
of fence which compels the insects to enter the flower in a certain
way, and thus effect pollination; the honey is secreted on their inner
side, and not by the gland-like tips.~
[Illustration: FIG. 489.--Portion of _Cephalotus follicularis_:
_k_ pitcher-like leaf with thick corrugated edge (_m_) and lid
(_l_); _b_ foliage-leaf of the ordinary form.]
=2.= _Adoxa moschatellina_ (Moschatel). This is a perennial, creeping
herb; the horizontal rhizome has an unlimited growth, and bears, in
a _scattered_ arrangement, both foliage-leaves, and white, fleshy
scale-leaves. The aerial stem bears 2 opposite foliage-leaves and a
capitate inflorescence of 5 flowers, 4 placed laterally (in opposite
pairs) and 1 terminally. The flower is semi-epigynous, the calyx
gamosepalous, corolla absent. The stamens are divided to the base, so
that each filament bears a bilocular anther. The style is free, deeply
cleft. The _terminal_ flower has 2 bracteoles, 4 sepals, 4 stamens,
cleft to the base, and a 4-locular ovary. The bracts of the _lateral_
flowers are displaced on the flower-stalk, as in _Chrysosplenium_, and
united with the 2 bracteoles into a kind of 3-leaved involucre; these
flowers have 5 sepals, 5 split stamens with 2-locular anthers, and a
5-locular ovary. 1 pendulous ovule in each loculus. Fruit a _drupe_,
green-coloured, with 1–5 stones.--This plant, which would perhaps
be best placed in a special order, has also been classed with the
Araliaceæ and Caprifoliaceæ.
The following are also allied to this order: _Escalloniaceæ_
(arborescent plants with simple, scattered, leathery leaves),
_Cunoniaceæ_ (arborescent with opposite leaves), _Cephalotaceæ_
(with pitcher-like, insect-catching leaves; Australia; Fig.
489) and _Francoaceæ_. These have respectively 85, 107, 1 and 3
species.
[Illustration: FIGS. 490–492.--_Ribes rubrum._
FIG. 490.--Floral diagram.
FIG. 491.--Flower in longitudinal section.