[*] 1. Ovary superior (though sometimes enclosed within the calyx), 1-celled with a solitary basal ovule (several-celled in Phytolaccaceæ); embryo coiled or curved (nearly straight in Polygonaceæ) in or about mealy albumen (albumen none in some Chenopodiaceæ); herbs. [+] Fruit the hardened or membranous closed base of the corolla-like perianth enclosing a utricle. 84. Nyctaginaceæ (p. 425). Perianth tubular or funnelform. Stamens hypogynous. Fruit ribbed or winged. Leaves opposite; stipules none. [+][+] Fruit a utricle; perianth mostly persistent, small, 4--5-lobed or -parted, or none. 85. Illecebraceæ (p. 426). Perianth herbaceous. Stamens perigynous. Leaves opposite; stipules scarious (none in Scleranthus). 86. Amarantaceæ (p. 427). Flowers sessile, bracteate, the bracts (usually 3) more or less dry and scarious, as well as the 3--5 distinct sepals. Stamens 1--5, hypogynous. Utricle indehiscent or circumscissile. Embryo annular. Leaves mostly alternate, entire; stipules none. 87. Chenopodiaceæ (p. 430). Flowers sessile, not scarious-bracteate. Sepals greenish or succulent, 5 or fewer, or none. Stamens 5 or fewer, perigynous or hypogynous. Embryo annular or spiral or conduplicate. Leaves alternate; stipules none. [+][+][+] Ovary of several 1-ovuled carpels, in fruit a berry (in our genera). 88. Phytolaccaceæ (p. 435). Sepals 4--5, petaloid or herbaceous. Stamens 5--30, hypogynous. Carpels 5--12. Embryo annular. Leaves alternate, entire; stipules none. [+][+][+][+] Fruit a triangular or lenticular achene. 89. Polygonaceæ (p. 436). Flowers on jointed pedicels. Calyx 3--6-lobed or -parted, more or less corolla-like. Stamens 4--12, on the calyx. Embryo nearly straight. Leaves alternate, with sheathing stipules or none. [*] 2. Ovary compound, the cells many-ovuled (or 1-ovuled in Piperaceæ); embryo minute in copious albumen; flowers perfect. 90. Podostemaceæ (p. 444). Aquatic, with the aspect of sea-weeds or mosses, with minute naked flowers from a spathe-like involucre. Ovary superior; pod 2--3-celled. 91. Aristolochiaceæ (p. 444). Terrestrial herbs or climbing shrubs. Calyx valvate, adnate at least at base to the 6-celled many-seeded ovary. Stamens 6--12, more or less united with the style. Leaves alternate, mostly cordate; stipules none. 92. Piperaceæ (§ Saurureæ), (p. 446). Marsh herb (our species). Perianth none. Carpels 3--4, distinct, with usually a single ascending seed. Leaves alternate, entire. [*] 3. Ovary superior, simple, 1-celled, 1-ovuled, forming a berry or drupe; trees or shrubs, with mostly entire leaves and no stipules. 93. Lauraceæ (p. 446). Flowers perfect or diœcious. Sepals 4 or 6, in 2 rows. Stamens 9--12; anthers opening by 2 or 4 uplifted valves. Seed suspended; albumen none. Aromatic; leaves alternate. 94. Thymelæaceæ (p. 448). Flowers perfect. Calyx corolla-like, 4--5-cleft. Stamens twice as many. Seed suspended, with little or no albumen. Acrid shrubs with very tough bark; leaves alternate.