fumarIacee

pl. [Mod. Lat. fumaria (q. v.); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff.- aceœ.] Bot.: Fumeworts. An order of Hypogynous Exogens; alliance Berberales. It consists of herbs with brittle stems and a watery juice; leaves usually alternate, multifid, often with tendrils; sepals two, deciduous; petals four, cruciate, very irregu lar; stamens four, distinct, hypogynous, or six, in two parcels; ovary free, one-celled, style filiform; fruit either an indehiscent one or two-seeded nut or a succulent indehiscent poly spermous pod. They are a little bitter, and act as diaphoretics and aperients. The order is divided into two tribes, Hypecoese and Fumariese (q. v.). About 100 species are known. They are from the temperate and warmer parts of the Northern hemisphere, and from South Africa.