Study of Different Families

Chapter 5

Study of Different Families

INTRODUCTION

• A British systematic botanist J. Hutchinson published his work, The Families of Flowering Plants in 1926 on dicotyledons and in 1934 on monocotyledons. Hutchinson made it clear that the plants with sepals and petals are more primitive than the plants without petals and sepals on the assumption that free parts are more primitive than fused ones. He also believed that spiral arrangement of floral parts, numerous free stamens and hermaphrodite flowers are more primitive than unisexual flowers with fused stamens. He considered monochlamydous plants as more advanced than dicotyledons. Hutchinson’s system indicates the concept of phylogenetic classification and seems to be an advanced step over the Bentham and Hooker system of classification. Hutchinson accepted the older view of woody and herbaceous plants, and fundamentally called them as Lignosae and Herbaceae. He revised the scheme of classification in 1959. He has divided the flowering plants into two phyla: phylum I—Gymnospermae (not elaborated by him) and phylum II—Angiospermae. The latter are divided into two sub-phyla: sub-phylum I—Dicotyledons and sub-phylum II—Monocotyledons.

• The division of angiosperms into these two large classes is based on the following factors:

1. In dicotyledons, the embryo bears two cotyledons, and in monocotyledons, it bears only one. 
2.  In dicotyledons, the primary root persists and gives rise to the tap root, while in monocotyledons, the primary root soon perishes and is replaced by a cluster of adventitious (fibrous) roots. 
3. As a rule, venation is reticulate in dicotyledons and parallel in monocotyledons. Among monocotyledons, aroids, sarsaparilla (Smilax) and yams (Dioscorea), however, show reticulate venation, and among dicotyledons, Alexandrian laurel (Calophyllum) shows parallel venation. Further, in dicotyledons, the veinlets end freely in the mesophyll of the leaf, whereas in monocotyledons, veins or veinlets do not end freely.
4. The dicotyledonous flower usually has a pentamerous symmetry, sometimes tetramerous (as in Cruciferae and Rubiaceae), while the monocotyledonous flower has a trimerous symmetry.
5.  In the dicotyledonous stem, the vascular bundles are arranged in a ring and are collateral and open, i.e., they contain a strip of cambium which gives rise to secondary growth. In the monocotyledonous stem, however, the bundles are scattered in the ground tissue and are collateral and closed. Hence, there is no secondary growth (with but few exceptions). Also, the bundles are more numerous in monocotyledons than in dicotyledons. Further, they are more or less oval in monocotyledons and wedge shaped in dicotyledons. 
6. In the dicotyledonous root, the number of xylem bundles varies from 2 to 6, seldom more, but in the monocotyledonous root there are many, seldom a limited number (5–8). It may also be noted that the cambium soon makes its appearance in the dicotyledonous root as a secondary meristem and gives rise to secondary growth, but in the monocotyledonous root, the presence of cambium is rare. Hence, there is no secondary growth. 

Floral Diagram

• The number of parts of a flower, their general structure, arrangement and the relation they bear to one another (aestivation), adhe sion, cohesion, and position with respect to the mother axis may be represented by a diagram known as the floral diagram. The floral diagram is the ground plan of a flower. In the diagram, the calyx lies outermost, the corolla internal to the calyx, the androecium in the middle, and the gynoecium in the centre. Adhesion and cohesion of members of different whorls may also be shown clearly by connecting the respective parts with lines. The black dot on the top represents the position of the mother axis (not the pedicel), which bears the flower. The axis lies behind the flower and, therefore, the side of the flower nearest to the axis is called the posterior side, and the other side away from the axis the anterior side. The floral characteristics of species may be well represented by a floral diagram, whereas more than one diagram may be necessary to represent a genus or family.

Floral Formula

• The different whorls of a flower, their number, cohesion and adhesion may be represented by a formula known as the floral formula. In the floral formula, K stands for calyx, C for corolla, P for perianth, A for androecium and G for gynoecium. The figures following the letters K, C, P, A and G indicate the number of parts of those whorls. Cohesion of a whorl is shown by enclosing the figure within brackets, and adhesion is shown by a line drawn on top of the two whorls concerned. In the case of the gynoecium, the position of the ovary is shown by a line drawn above or below G on the figure. If the ovary is superior, the line should be below it; and if inferior, the line should be on top. Thus, all the parts of a flower are represented in a general way by a floral formula.

• Besides, some symbols are used to represent certain features of flowers. Thus ♂ represents male, ♀ female, H hermaphrodite, ♂♀ dioecious, ♂-♀ monoecious, ♂ ♀ H polygamous, ⊕ actinomorphic, ·׀·zygomorphic, ∞ indefinite number of parts, etc. Features used in descriptions of Angiospermic plants:

 Habitat: Natural abode of the plant.

1. Habit: Herb (erect, prostrate, decumbent, diffuse, trailing, twining or climbing), shrub (erect, straggling, twining or climbing), tree or any other peculiarity in the habit.
2. Root: Nature of the foot; any special form.
3. Stem: Kind of stem—herbaceous or woody; cylindrical or angular; hairy or smooth; jointed or not; hollow or solid; erect, prostrate, twining or climbing; nature of modification, if any
4. Leaf: Arrangement—whether alternate, opposite (superposed or decussate) or whorled; stipulate or exstipulate; nature of the stipules, if present, simple or compound; nature of the compound leaf and the number of leaflets; shape and size; hairy or smooth; deciduous or persistent: venation; margin; apex; and petiole.
5. Inflorescence: type of inflorescence.
6. Flower: sessile or stalked; complete or incomplete; unisexual or bisexual; regular, zygomorphic, or irregular; hypogynous, epigynous or perigynous; bracteate or ebracteate; nature of bracts and bracteoles, if present; shape, colour and size of the flower
7. Calyx: polysepalous or gamosepalous; number of sepals or lobes; superior or inferior; aestivation; shape, size and colour.
8. Corolla: polypetalous or gamopetalous; number of petals or lobes; superior or inferior; aestivation; shape, sizecolour and scent; corona or any special feature. (When there is not much difference between the calyx and the corolla, the term perianth should be used. It may be sepaloid or petaloid, polyphylies or gamophyllous, or free or epiphyllous). 
9. Androecium: number of stamens—definite (10 or less) or indefinite (more than 10); free or united; nature of cohesion—Monadelphous, diadelphous, polyadelphous, syngenesious or synandrous; nature of adhesion—epipetalous or gynandrous, or any special feature; whether alternating with the petals (or corolla lobes) or opposite them. Length of stamens—general length; inserted or exerted; didynamous or tetradynamous; position of stamens—hypogynous, perigynous or epigynous; attachment of the anther and its dehiscence; anther lobes or appendages, if any,
10. Gynoecium or pistil: number of carpels; syncarpous or apocarpous; nature of style—long or short; stigmas— simple, lobed or branched; their number and nature— smooth or papillose; ovary—superior or inferior; number of lobes; number of chambers (loculi); nature of placentation; number and form of ovules in each loculus of the ovary.
11. Fruit: kind of fruit.
12. Seeds: number of seeds in the fruit; shape and size; albuminous or exalbuminous; nature of endosperm, if present.

 APOCYNACEAE

• Habit: These are mostly twining or erect shrubs and lianes, a few herbs and trees with latex. Bicollateral bundles or internal phloem often present.

• Leaves: The leaves are simple, opposite or whorled, rarely alternate.

• Flowers: The flowers are regular, bisexual and hypogynous, in cymes. They are usually salver or funnel shaped, often with corona.

• Calyx: The sepals are five in number, and rarely four, gamosepalous and often united only at the base.

• Corolla: There are five petals, rarely four. They are gamopetalous and twisted.

• Androecium: There are five stamens, rarely four. They are epipetalous, alternating with the petals, included within the corolla tube. The anthers usually connate around the stigma and apparently adnate to it. The disc is ring like or glandular. 

• Gynoecium: The carpels are two or (2), apocarpous or syncarpous, superior. When apocarpous, each ovary is one-celled with marginal placentation, and when syncarpous the ovary may be one celled with parietal placentation, or two celled with axile placentation. There are 2-∞ ovules in each.

• Fruit: There is a pair of follicles, barriers or drupes.

• Seeds: The seeds often have a crown of long, silky hairs and they mostly have endosperm.

Floral formula: ⊕ or ·׀·H K5 C5 A5 G – (2)

COMPOSITAE

• Habit: These are herbs and shrubs, rarely twiners, e.g., Mikarnia scandens, or trees, e.g., Vernonia arborea. They sometimes have internal phloem. Some genera have latex, e.g., Sonchus, Crvpis, Lactuca, Picris, etc.  

• Leaves: The leaves are simple, alternate or opposite, rarely compound.

• Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a head (or capitulum), with an involucre of bracts.

• Flowers (florets): The flowers are of two kinds—the central ones (called disc florets) are tubular, and the marginal ones (called ray florets) are ligulate. Sometimes all florets are of one kind, either tubular or ligulate. The disc flowers are regular, tubular, bisexual and epigynous, each usually in the axil of a bracteole.

• Calyx: The calyx is often modified into a cluster of hairs called pappus, as in Tridax and Ageratum, or into scales, as in sunflower and Eclipta, or absent, as in water cress (Enhydra).

• Corolla: There are (5) petals. It is gamopetalous and tubular.

• Androecium: The five stamens are epipetalous. The filaments are free but the anthers united (syngenesious).

• Gynoecium: The carpels are (2), syncarpous. The ovary inferior, one-celled with one basal, anatropous ovule. There is one style and the stigma is bifid.

• Fruit: The fruit is a cypscla

Floral formula: ⊕ H Kpappus or C(5) A(5) G(2)

• The ray florets are zygomorphic, ligulate, unisexual (female), or sometimes neuter, as in sunflower, and epigynous, each usually in the axil of a bracteole. The calyx is usually modified into pappus. Sometimes it is scaly or absent. The corolla has (5) petals, is gamopetalous and ligulate (strap shaped). The gynoecium has disc florets shape.  

CONVOLULACEAE

• Habit: These are mostly twiners, often with latex and bicollateral vascular bundles or internal phloem.

• Leaves: The leaves are simple, alternate and exstipulate.

• Inflorescence: The inflorescence is cymose. The flowers are regular, bisexual, hypogynous, often large and showy.

• Calyx: There are five sepals, usually free. The odd one is posterior, imbricate and persistent.

• Corolla: There are (5) petals, is gamopetalous, funnel shaped, twisted in bud and sometimes imbricate.

• Androecium: The five stamens are epipetalous, alternating with the petals.

• Gynoecium: There are (2) carpels, rarely more, connate. The ovary is superior, with a disc at the base. It is two celled, with two ovules in each cell, or sometimes fourcelled with one ovule in each cell. The placentation is axile.

• Fruit: The fruit is a berry or a capsule.

CRUCIFERAE

• Habit: These are annual herbs.

• Leaves: The leaves are radical and cauline, simple, alternate, often lobed, or rarely pinnately compound.

• Inflorescence: A raceme (corymbose towards the top).

• Flowers: The flowers are regular and cruciform, bisexual and complete hypogynous.

• Calyx: They are sepals, 2+2, which are free, and in two whorls.

• Corolla: There are four petals, free, in one whorl. They alternate with the sepals. They are cruciform. Each petal has distinct limb and claw.

• Androecium: There are six stamens in two whorls, two short, outer ones and four long, inner ones (tetradynamous).

• Gynoecium: There are two syncarpous carpels. The ovary is superior, at first one-celled, but later two-celled owing to the development of a false septum. There are often many ovules in each cell, sometimes only two. They are anatropous or campylotropous. The placentation is parietal.

• Fruit: The fruit is a long, narrow siliqua or a short, broad silicula.

• Seeds: These are exalbuminous. The embryo is curved. The seeds remain attached to a wiry framework, called the replum, which surrounds the fruit.

GRAMINEAE

• Habit: These are herbs, rarely woody, as bamboos. They are very widely distributed all over the earth.

• Stem: This is cylindrical and has distinct nodes and internodes (sometimes hollow), called culm.

• Leaves: These are simple, alternate and distichous. They have a sheathing leaf base that is split open on the sideopposite the leaf blade. There is a hairy structure, called the ligule, at the base of the leaf blade.

• Inflorescence: This is usually a spike or a panicle of spikelets. Each spikelet consists of one or few flowers (not exceeding five), and its base-bears two empty bracts or glumes (GI, GII), one placed a little above and opposite the other. A third glume, called the lemma or flowering glume, stands opposite the second glume. The lemma encloses a flower in its axil. It may have a bristle-like appendage, long or short, known as the awn. Opposite the flowering glume or lemma, there is a somewhat smaller, two-nerved glume called the palea. The spikelet may be sessile or stalked.

• Flowers: These are usually bisexual, sometimes unisexual and monoecious.

• Perianth: This is represented by 2- or 3-minute scales, called the lodicules, at the base of the flower. These are considered to form the rudimentary perianth.

• Androecium: There are three stamens, or sometimes six, as in rice and bamboo. The anthers are versatile and pendulous.

• Gynoecium: The carpels are generally considered to number (three), reduced to one by their fusion or by the suppression of two. The ovary is superior and onecelled, with one ovule. The styles usually number two (three in bamboos, and two fused into one in maize, rarely one). They may be terminal or lateral. The stigmas are feathery.

• Fruit: The fruit is a caryopsis.

• Seed: This is albuminous. Pollination by the wind is most common. Self-pollination occurs in a few cases, as in wheat.

LABIATAE

• Habit: These are herbs and undershrubs with square stems.

• Leaves: These are simple, opposite or whorled, exstipulate and have oil glands.

• Flowers: This is a zygomorphic, bilabiate, hypogynous and bisexual

• Inflorescence: This is a verticillaster. It is often reduced to a true cyme, as in tulsi

• Calyx: The petals are (five in number), gamopetalous and bilabiate, i.e., two lipped. The aestivation is imbricate.

• Androecium: The stamens are four and didynamous. Sometimes there are only two, as in sage. They are epipetalous.

• Gynoecium: The carpels are (2) and syncarpous. The disc is prominent. The ovary is four-lobed and fourcelled, with one ovule in each cell, ascending from the base of ovary. The style is gynobasic, i.e. it develops from the depressed centre of the lobed ovary. The stigma is bifid.

• Fruit: This is a group of four nutlets, each with one seed. The seed has only scanty endosperm, or even none.

LEGUMINOSAE

• Habit: These are herbs, shrubs, trees, twiners or climbers

• Roots: The roots of many species, particularly of Papilionaceae, have tubercles.

• Leaves: These are alternate, pirnnately compound, and rarely simple, as in rattlewort (Crotalaria sericea), camel’s foot tree (bauhinid) and some species of desmodium, e.g. D. gangeticum, with a swollen leaf-base known as the pulvinus. There are two, usually free, stipules

• Flowers: These are bisexual and complete, regular or zygomorphic or irregular, and hypogynous or slightly perigynous.

• Calyx: There are usually 5 or (5) sepals, with the odd one anterior (away from the axis). Sometimes there are four sepals. They may be united or free.

• Corolla: There are usually five petals, with the odd one posterior (towards the axis). Sometimes there are four petals, free or united.

• Androecium: There are usually 10 or more stamens (often less than 10 by reduction) free or united.

• Gynoecium: There is one carpel. The ovary is one-celled, with one-to-many ovules. It is superior and the placentation is marginal. The ovary often borne on a long or short stalk is called the stipe or gynophore.

• Fruit: This is mostly a legume or pod (dehiscent), or sometimes a lomentum (indehiscent). This is the second biggest family among the dicotyledons and has varying characteristics. As such, it has been divided into the following sub-families: papilionaceae, Caesalpinia and mimoseae. The division is primarily based on the characteristics of the corolla and the stamens. 

Papilionaceae

• Habit: Herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers.

• Leaves: Unipinnate, sometimes trifoliate, rarely simple; stipels often present.

• Inflorescence: Usually a raceme.

• Flowers: Zygomorphic, polypetalous and papilionaceous.

• Calyx: Usually has five sepals, gamosepalous, often imbricate, sometimes valvate.

• Corolla: Usually has five petals, free, of very unequal sizes, the posterior and largest one being the vexillum or standard, the two lateral ones being the wings or alae, and the two innermost ones (apparently united) forming the keel or carina; aestivation vexillary

• Androecium: Stamens 10, diadelphous (9) + 1, rarely 10, free, as in coral tree (erythrina), or (10), connate, as in rattlewort (crotalaria).

Caesalpinieae

• Habit: Shrubs trees, rarely climbers or herbs.

• Leaves: Unipinnate or bipinnate, rarely simple, as in camel’s foot tree (Bauhinia); stipels absent. 

• Inflorescence: Mostly a raceme.

• Flowers: Zygomorphic or irregular and polypetalous

• Calyx: Sepals usually have five, polysepalous (sometimes gamosepalous), imbricate. 

• Corolla: Usually have five petals, free, subequal or unequal, the odd or posterior one (sometimes very small) always innermost; aestivation imbricate

• Androecium: There are 10 stamens, or less by reduction; free

Mimoseae

• Habit: Shrubs and trees, sometimes herbs or woody climbers. 

• Leaves: Bipinnate; stipels present or absent

• Inflorescence: A head or a spike.

• Flowers: Regular, often small and aggregated in spherical heads

• Calyx: (5) or (4) sepals, generally gamosepalous, valvate

• Corolla: (5) or 4) petals, mostly gamopetalous; aestivation valvate. 

• Androecium: Usually ∞ stamens, sometimes 10 (as in Entada, Neptunia, Prosopis and Parkia), free, often united at the base; pollen often united in small masses

 LILIACEAE

• Habit: These are herbs and climbers, and rarely shrubs or trees with a bulb or rhizome, or with fibrous roots.

• Leaves: These are simple, radical or cauline, or both.

• Flowers: The flowers are regular, bisexual (rarely unisexual) dioecious, as in smilex. They are trimerous and hypogynous. The bracts are usually small and scarious (thin, dry and membranous).

• Inflorescence: This may be a spike, raceme, panicle or umbel, often on a scape.

• Perianth: The perianths are petaloid. There are usually six in two whorls. They may be 3+3 and free (polyphyllous), or (3+3), and united (gamophyllous).

• Androecium: There are six stamens in two whorls, 3+3, rarely free or united with the perianth (epiphyllous) at the base. The anthers are often dorsifixed.

• Gynoecium: There are (3) carpels (syncarpous). The ovary is superior and three celled. There are usually ∞ ovules in two rows in each loculus. The placentation is axile. There are (3) or 3 styles.

• Fruit: This may be a berry or capsule.

• Seeds: The seeds are albuminous.

PAPAVERACEAE

• Habit: They are mostly herbs with milky or yellowish latex

• Leaves: The leaves are radical and cauline, simple and alternate, often lobed.

• Flowers: These are solitary, often showy, regular, bisexual and hypogynous

• Calyx: The sepals are typically two or sometimes three, free, caducous.

• Corolla: There are petals 2+2 or 3+3, arranged rarely more, in two whorls (rarely three), large, free, rolled or crumpled in the bud, caducous and imbricate.

• Androecium: Stamens α, sometimes two or four. They are free.

• Gynoecium: The carpels (2- ∞), (4–6) in argemone. It is syncarpous. The ovary is superior, 1-chambered, or spuriously 2- to 4-chambered, with 2-∞ parietal placentae which may project inwards, as in poppy (papaver). The stigmas are distinct or sessile and rayed over the ovary, as in poppy. The ovules are numerous.

• Fruit: This is a septicidal capsule dehiscing by or opening by pores. There are many seeds, with oily endosperm.

RUBIACEAE

• Habit: These are herbs (erect or prostrate), shrubs, trees and climbers, sometimes thorny.

• Leaves: The leaves are simple, entire, opposite (decussate) or whorled, with interpetiolar (sometimes intrapetiolar) stipules.

• Flowers: The flowers are regular, bisexual, epigynous, sometimes dimorphic, as in some species of randia and oldenlandia.

• Inflorescence: The inflorescence is typically cymose, frequently dichasial and branched, sometimes in globose heads.

• Calyx: There are usually four sepals, sometimes five. It is gamosepalous. The calyx tube adnates to the ovary.

• Corolla: There are usually four sometimes five. It is gamopetalous, generally rotate. The aestivation is valvate, imbricate or twisted.

• Androecium: The stamens are as epipetalous, inserted within or at the mouth of the corolla tube, alternating with the corolla lobes.

• Gynoecium: The carpels are two, syncarpous. The ovary is inferior, commonly two-locular, with 1-∞ ovules in each. The disc is usually annular, at the base of the style.

• Fruit: The fruit is a berry, drupe or capsule.

• Seeds: The seed has fleshy or horny endosperm.

RUTACEAE

• Habit: These are shrubs and trees (rarely herbs).

• Leaves: The leaves are simple or compound, alternate or rarely opposite and gland dotted.

• Flowers: These are regular, bisexual and hypogynous. The disc below the ovary is prominent and ring or cap like.

• Calyx: There are four or five sepals free or connate below and imbricate.

• Corolla: Petals four or five, free, imbricate

• Androecium: The number of stamens varies, they can be as many, or more often twice, as many, as the petals (diplostemonous), or numerous, as in citrus and aegle. They are free or united in irregular bundles (polyadelphous), and inserted on the disc.

• Gynoecium: There are generally (4) or (5) carpels, or ∞, as in citrus. They are syncarpous or free at the base and united above, and either sessile or seated on the disc. The ovary is generally four- or five-locular, or multilocular as in citrus, with axile placentation (parietal in limonia only). There are usually 2-∞ (rarely 1) ovules in each loculus, arranged in two rows.

• Fruit: This is a berry, capsule or hesperidium.

• Seeds: The seeds may or may not have an endosperm. Polyembryony is frequent in Citrus, e.g., lemon and orange (but not pummelo and citron).

SCROPHULARIACEAE

• Habit: These are mostly herbs and under-shrubs.

• Leaves: These are simple, alternate, opposite or whorled, exstipulate, and sometimes exhibit heterophylly.

• Inflorescence: This is usually racemose (raceme or spike), and sometimes cymose (dichasium). It can be axillary or terminal. The flowers are solitary in some species.

• Flowers: These are zygomorphic, two-lipped and sometimes personate. They often have a great diversity of form. They are bisexual and hypogynous. Bracts and bracteoles are generally present.

• Calyx: The sepals are (5), gamosepalous, five-lobed and often imbricate.

• Corolla: The petals are (5), gamopetalous, often twolipped and sometimes spurred or saccate. They are medianly zygomorphic, very rarely regular (as in Scoparia), and imbricate.

• Androecium: The stamens are four, didynamous, sometimes two, arching over in pairs. The posterior stamen is absent or a staminode. The anthers are divaricated.

• Gynoecium: The carpels are (2) and syncarpous. The ovary is superior, bilocular and antero-posterior (and not oblique as in solanaceae). The placentation is axile. The stigma is simple or bilobed. There are usually many ovules, though sometimes only a few. The disc is ring-like around the base of the ovary, sometimes unilateral.

• Fruit: This is mostly a capsule and sometimes a berry.

• Seeds: These are usually numerous, minute and endospermic.

SOLANACEAE

• Habit: These are herbs and shrubs; bicollateral bundles or internal phloem are often present.

• Leaves: These are simple, sometimes pinnate, as in tomato, and alternate.

• Flowers: These are regular, seldom zygomorphic, as in Brunfelsia, bisexual and hypogynous.

• Calyx: The sepals are (5), united and persistent.

• Corolla: The petals are (5) and united. It is usually funnel or cup shaped, five lobed. The lobes are valvate or twisted in the bud.

• Androecium: The stamens are five, epipetalous and alternate with the corolla lobes. The anthers are apparently connate and often open by means of pores. 

• Gynoecium: The carpels are (2) and syncarpous. The ovary is superior and obliquely placed. It is two celled or sometimes four celled, owing to the development of a false septum, as in tomato and thorn apple. There are many ovules in each chamber. The placentation is axile.

• Fruit: The fruit is a berry or capsule with many seeds.

UMBELLIFERAE

• Habit: These are herbs (rarely shrubs). The stem is usually fistular.

• Leaves: The leaves are alternate, simple, often much divided, sometimes decompound; petiole usually sheathing at the base.

• Flowers: The flowers are regular (actinomorphic) or sometimes zygomorphic, epigynous, bisexual or polygamous. The outer flowers are sometimes rayed; mostly protandrous. The bracts are in the form of an involucre.

• Inflorescence: It is an umbel, usually compound or in a few cases simple as in centella.

• Calyx: There are five sepals. They are free, adnate to the ovary, often considerably reduced in size.

• Corolla: The petals are five, rarely absent, free, adnate to the ovary and sometimes unequal. The margin is often curved inwards, valvate or imbricate.

• Androecium: There are five stamens, which are free, alternating with the petals, epigynous. The filaments are bent inwards in the bud; anthers introrse.

• Gynoecium: The carpels are two, syncarpous. The ovary is inferior, two-celled, antero-posterior, crowned by a two-lobed, epigynous disc (stylopodium), with two free styles arising from it. The stigmas capitate. There are two ovules, solitary in each cell and pendulous.

• Fruit: The fruit is a cremocarp consisting of two indehiscent carpels laterally or dorsally compressed, breaking up into two parts, called mericarps, which are attached to a slender, often forked axis (carpophore). Each mericarp usually shows five longitudinal ridges and oil canals (vittae) in the furrows.

• Seeds: There are two seeds, one in each mericarp; albuminous.