The Chenopodiaceae are a family of monochlamydeous plants which have more or less succulent leaves, flowers that possess a superior syncarpous pistil, with two, three or four styles and an undivided stigma. Research Chenopodiaceae
Coniferae (the Conifers) are the pines, firs, and their allies, a natural order of gymnospermous exogens, the essential character of which consists in the manner in which the ovules, not inclosed in an ovary, receive directly the action of the pollen without the intervention of a stigma. The ovules in these plants are borne on scales or modified leaves, which are spread out, not folded, and generally grouped in such a manner as to form a cone composed of a greater or smaller number of these leaves, of which only a portion may be fertile and bear ovules. The disposition, of the ovules in relation to these scales permits of a division of the Coniferae into three distinct families or tribes.
In the Cupressineae, which include the juniper, cypress, etc, the cones are formed of simple scales, each of which bears towards the base of its superior surface the ovules erect and sessile.
The second family, Abietineae, has in place of simple scales, scales actually double or formed of two parts; the lower one usually designated the bract; the other bearing at its base the ovules reversed. This family includes the pines, firs, and larches, the araucarias, Wellingtonias, dammaras, etc. In these two families the ovules are completely covered by the scales which constitute the cones, which unite after fecun-dation, and inclose the seedtill their maturity.
In the Taxineae, which constitute the third family, the scales are short, imperfect, and partly sterile, and neither cover the ovules at the period of fecundation nor at that of maturation. The ovules are usually set in the same manner as in the Cupressineae. The yew, the gingko, etc, belong to this family.
The Conifers are found in large forests in the north of Europe and America, and are of great importance as timber trees. They abound also in resinous juices and yield turpentine, pitch, tar, succinic acid, etc. The leaves are usually alternate, and awl or needle shaped, the naked flowers are monoecious or dioecious, the male flowers being in deciduous catkins, the female in cones. Research Coniferae
Diandria is the second class in the Linnaean system, comprehending all genera with flowers having only two stamens, provided the stamens are neither united at their base, nor combined with the style and stigma, nor separated from the pistil. Research Diandria
In popular language, a flower is the blossom of a plant, consisting chiefly of delicate and gaily-coloured leaves or petals; in botany, the term is restricted to the organs of reproduction in a phenogamous plant,.
A complete flower consists of stamens and pistils together with two sets of leaves which surround and protect them, the calyx and corolla. The stamens and pistils are the essential organs of the flower. They occupy two circles or rows, the one within the other, the stamens being in the outer row.
The stamens consist of a stalk or filament supporting a roundish body, the anther, which is filled with a powdery substance called the pollen.
The pistil consists of a closed cell or ovary at the base, containing ovules, and covered by a style which terminates in the stigma.
These organs are surrounded by the corolla and calyx, which together are called the floral envelope, or when they both display rich colouring the perianth. The leaves of the corolla are called petals, and those of the calyx sepals.
Some flowers lack the floral envelope, and are called achlamydeous; others have the calyx but are without the corolla, and are called monochlamydeous.
Flowers are generally bisexual, but some plants have unisexual flowers; that is, the pistils are in one flower and the stamens in another. Research Flower More pictures of Flower
A gymnosperm is a plant with a naked seed - the term being used in contrast to Angiosperm - there being no proper ovary the seeds being fertilised by the pollen coming into direct contact with the foramen of the ovule without the intervention of a stigma. The gymnosperms include pines and firs, yews, cycads, etc. Research Gymnosperm
The Pale Stigma (Mesogona acetosellae) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm found in the warmer regions of Europe and Asia in deciduous forests and forest-steppes where it flies from August to September. Research Pale Stigma
Primulaceae is a family of herbaceous plants, mostly inhabitants of the cooler parts of the world. They bear flowers usually with a five-cleft calyx, five petals, five stamens, a one-celled ovary, one style, and a capitate stigma. Research Primulaceae
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Chenopodiaceae
