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Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

[Introduction to Order XXIX. Onagrarieæ.]

Herbs, rarely shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite or alternate, simple, entire or toothed, exstipulate. Flowers usually regular, hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube often elongated, altogether adnate to the ovary, sometimes produced beyond, it; limb of 2–5 valvate lobes. Petals as many as the calyx-lobes, inserted at the top of the calyx-tube, rarely wanting. Stamens as many or twice as many as the petals, inserted with them. Ovary inferior, usually 2–4-celled; style simple, filiform; stigma capitate or 2–4-lobed; ovules usually numerous in each cell, in 1 or 2 series, pendulous or page 171ascending; placentas axile. Fruit various, generally a 2–4-celled capsule with loculicidal or septicidal dehiscence, sometimes a berry, rarely nut-like. Seeds usually small, sometimes provided with a tuft of hairs; albumen none, or a thin layer only.

A small order of about 11 genera and 300 species, widely spread in temperate regions, rare in the tropics; most plentiful in North America, especially in Mexico. Many of the species have handsome flowers, and are frequently cultivated in gardens, particularly the genera Godetia, Œnothera, Clarkia, and Fuchsia, but they have no other economical importance. Of the New Zealand genera, Epilobium is universal in cool climates; Fuchsia is confined to South America with the exception of the New Zealand species.

Herbs. Fruit an elongated capsule. Seeds with a tuft of

hairs 1. Epilobium.
Shrubs or small trees. Fruit a berry 2. Fuchsia.