Echiitolema,  Jacq.  f.
Numbers.  Gen.  5.     Sp.  10.
Position. — Asteraceie. — CalyceracevE. — Dipsacaceae.
Fig.  CCCCLXXII.— Acicarpha  spathulata.— -RtcAard.    1.  section  of  an  entire  flower;  2.  perpendi-
cular section  of  ripe  fruit.
702


ASTERACE^.
[Epigynous  Exogens.
Order  CCLXXIII.    ASTERACEiE.— Composites.
Compositfe,  Admis.  Fani.  2.103.  (1763)  ;  Kunth  in  Humb.  N.  G.ct  Sp.  vol.  4;  ^^*«7'_f2'"^^*; ff/"^^f:'

Royle's  Illustr.  245;  DC.  Prodr.  vol.  5,  S^-c;  Endl.  Gen.  cxx. ;  3Ieisner,  p   m.-Sjiiantherese,

Rich    Anal.  {1S08)  ',  Cassini  Diet.  Sc.  N.  10.  131.  (1818);   Ibid.  60.  563.  (1830).-Corj'mbifer*,

C^Tiarocephate,  and  Cichoraceae,  Juss.  Gen.  (1789).
Diagnosis.— CawipawaZ  Exogem,  with  a  l-ceUed  ovary,  valvate  corolla,  syngenesious

anthers,  erect  ovule,  and  no  albumen.
Herbaceous  plants  or
shrubs.  Leaves  alter-
nate or  opposite,  without
stipules,  usually  simple,
but  commonly  much  di-
vided. Flowers  (called
florets)  miisexual  or  her-
raaplu'odite,  collected  in
dense  heads  upon  a  com-
mon receptacle,  sur-
rounded by  an  involucre.
Bracts  either  present  or
absent ;  when  present,
stationed  at  the  base  of
the  florets,  and  called
palese  of  the  receptacle.
Calyx  superior,  closely
adhering  to  the  ovary,
and  imdistinguishable
from  it  ;  its  limb  either
wanting  or  membranous,
divided  into  bristles,  pa-
lese, hairs,  or  feathers,
and  called  pappus.  Co-
rolla monopetalous,  su-
perior, usually  decidu-
ous, either  hgvdate  or
funnel-shaped  ;  in  the
latter  case,  4-  or  5-tooth-
ed,  with  a  valvate  aesti-
vation. Stamens  equal
in  number  to  the  teeth
of  the  corolla,  and  alter-
nate with  them  ;  the
anthers  cohering  into  a
cylinder.  Ovary  inferior,
1 -celled,  with  a  single
erect  ovule  ;  style  sim-
ple ;  stigmas  3,  either
distinct  or  imited.  Finiit
a  small,  indehiscent,  dry
pericai'p,  crowTied  with
the  limb  of  the  calyx.
Seed  solitary,  erect  ;
embryo  with  a  taper  in-
fei'ior  radicle ;  albumen
none.
