THE TRIUMFETTAS OF AFRICA. 235 
types than Porpa and Lepidocalyx ; and Lappula as moie modern than 
Lasiothriv. 
Before considering the sections in detail, it may be well to give some 
particulars of the structure of the flower and fruit, which are not generally 
found in descriptions of the genus. The flowers are normally pentamerous 
as to the calyx and corolla, but tetramerous and hexamerous flowers may also 
occur. The petals are hairy towards the base, the claw being ciliate, some- 
times hairy on the outside, and sometimes with a transverse line of hairs on 
the inner surface shortly above the base. Above the insertion of the petals 
comes an androgynophore or gonophore, with a quadrangular or rounded, 
glandular patch above each petal. The gonophore is produced above into a 
more or less membranous (in a dried state), ciliate ring or dise, within which 
the stamens are inserted. The filaments show transverse file-like markings. 
The ovary is tubercled, each tubercle being terminated by one or more stiff 
hairs, which eventually develop into rigid spinules in most cases. For con- 
venience of description, they are hereafter termed “ spinules? whatever their 
degree of rigidity. "There are 2—5 cells in the ovary, each containing 2 pend- 
ulous, collateral ovules, but there is a widespread tendeney to more or 
less complete division by longitudinal false septa into twice as many 1-ovuled 
cells. Thus in Lepidocalyx the ovary is completely 10-celled. 
As regards the dehiscence of the fruit it is often difficult to speak with 
certainty. In some species, e. g. 7. annua, the fruits dehisce readily ; in 
others, such as T. Welwitschii and T. flavescens, they are quite indehiscent ; 
but in a third set, though the fruit can be separated after boiling into separate 
valves (* capsula partibilis” of Gaertner), there is no evidence to show that 
it does actually dehisce. T. rhomboidea is a good example. 
Among the characters which we have found useful in distinguishing the 
species and groups of higher rank are the following :— 
1. Habit: this is usually characteristic of the higher groups, more rarely 
of single species. Occasionally, however, it varies in the same species : thus 
scandens and macrophylla var. ruwenzoriensis are both said to be sometimes 
erect shrubs, and sometimes climbers, according to situation. 
2. Indumentum of the stem and leaves: this requires to be used with 
great caution. While it is characteristic of certain species such as actinocarpa, 
Sonderii, Dekindtiana, annua, and eriophlebia, it serves in many instances only 
for the distinction of varieties, as in cordifolia, pilosa, and macrophylla. The 
nature of the indumentum often changes in the course of development of the 
leaves : thus the young leaves may be covered with both stellate and simple 
hairs, whilst the adult leaves of the same species may have hairs of one kind 
only. The indumentum of the flower-buds is generally about of equal value, 
but that of the fruits is much more constant, most of the species having 
fruits either constantly glabrous or constantly pilose. Among the exceptions 
are cordifolia and annua. 
