ORDER I.—RANUNCULACEÆ.
The plants belonging to this order are known by their numerous stamens, the anthers of which burst outwardly; by their carpels growing close together without adhering, except in one or two instances; and by the stem-clasping petioles of their leaves, which are generally deeply cut. The flowers when regular have five petals and five sepals, but they differ widely in shape, and the calyx of several of them is coloured so as to resemble a corolla. The seeds are fre quently cariopsides; and the plants abound in a watery juice which is acrid, and in most cases poisonous.
ORDER II.—DILLENIACEÆ.
This order resembles Raminculaceæ in having five petals, five sepals, and numerous stamens; but the anthers burst inwardly instead of outwardly, and there are never more than five carpels, and seldom more than two, which often grow into a berry-like fruit, as in the genus Dillenia from which the order takes its name. One species of this genus is occasionally seen in English hothouses, Dillenia speciosa. It has yellow flowers with the five petals apart at the base, and the sepals edged with white. The fruit consists of five carpels growing together with a sort of crown formed by the spreading stigmas. Another genus, some of the species of which are found in British greenhouses, is Hibbertia. The species are generally climbing plants, with flowers like those of Dillenia, but smaller, though H. dentata has the petals close together. The difference between the genera consists principally in the carpels, which in Hibbertia are distinct with long filiform styles curving inwards. All the plants contained in this order are evergreen exotic shrubs and trees with simple alternate leaves, and, with only two or three exceptions, the flowers are yellow.
ORDER III.—MAGNOLIACEÆ.
This order was divided by De Candolle into two tribes: viz. Illicieæ, the Aniseed tribe; and Magnolieæ, the Magnolia tribe. The first, which is now made a distinct order, under the name of Winteraceæ, contains three genera, only one of which, Illicium, is common in this country. The only hardy species of this genus, I. floridanum, the Florida Aniseed tree, has very dark purple flowers, which appear to be double from the great number of the petals, which are from twenty to thirty. The carpels are also numerous, and arranged so as to form a star. All the plants in this tribe are highly aromatic, and one species, Drimys Winteri, which has white fragrant flowers, produces an aromatic bark that is used in medicine.