94. ix. capparidacejE (oliveu). [Boscia. 



Gynophore about } in. Ovary ellipsoidal or ovoid, very shortly and obtusely 

 pointed, the outer layer (epicarp) as it enlarges into the globose (£-f in. 

 diaui.) fruit, becoming resolved into a compact pile of pungent flattened setse. 



Lower Guinea. Loanda, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch I 



There is at Kew a specimen from Richard's Herbarium, communicated by Count Franqne- 

 ville, named Boscia pubens, Rich. It is in fruit only, so that I cannot be sure of the genus. 

 It resembles B. angustifolia in habit. The leaves are lanceolate-oblong, mucronate, about 

 2j in. in length. It was collected iu Abyssinia by Dillon and Petit. 



9. CAPPARIS, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 108. 



Sepals 4 (very rarely 5), free or connate at the base (or united and split- 

 ting irregularly in some species not tropical African), equal or the two outer 

 broader and more concave or the two inner petaloid, imbricate or valvate, or 

 in two series, the outer pair valvate in aestivation. Petals 4. Stamens in- 

 definite (8-oo), inserted upon the torus. Filaments free. Ovary upon a 

 gynophore usually from £-2 in. in length, 1-celled or sometimes few-celled, 

 with 2 or more parietal placentas ; ovules usually indefinite ; stigma sessile. 

 Fruit stipitate with one or many seeds, indehiscent or sometimes separating 

 into 3 or 4 valves. — Trees or shrubs, often climbing or sometimes prostrate, 

 unarmed or with short, often recurved, stipular spines. Leaves simple, coria- 

 ceous or submembranous, rarely wanting. Plowers usually hermaphrodite, 

 solitary, racemose, corymbose or umbellate, axillary or terminal. 



A large genus widely spread through the tropics and warmer regions both of the New and 

 Old World. The nine or ten principal subdivisions of the genus are principally based upon 

 differences in the sepals. Three of these subgenera are represented in tropical Africa. 

 Several peculiar species grow at the Cape. Of the tropical African species four at least are 

 common to India, but none to America. 



A. Sepals equal or nearly equal in length, the two outer sometimes 

 broader or more deeply concave. 



*Eitremities usually armed with short stipular spines. 

 Leafless, at least the flowering branches. Flowers in fascicles or 



corymbs. Anterior sepal saccate. (Sect. Sodada.) . . . . 1. C. aphylla- 



(Sect. Eucapparis.) 



Trailing. Leaves rotundate. Flowers large, axillary, solitary . . 2. C. spinosa. 



Trailing. Leaves ovate to rotundate with curved in'ucro. Flowers 



large, axillary, solitary. Anterior sepal galeate 3. C. galeata. 



Leaves elliptical or ovate-oblong. Flowers axillary solitary or in 

 terminal corymbs. Sepals usually tomentose or pubescent ex- 

 ternally ; stigma much narrower than the ovary 4. C. tomentosa. 



Leaves ovate or elliptical, not acuminate, usually pubescent, coria- 

 ceous. Flowers in lateral or terminal corymbs or umbels. Se- 

 pals glabrous externally ; stigma minute 5. C. corymbosa- 



Leaves membranous, ovate, acuminate, glabrate. Flowers axillary, 



1-3 c, c. viminea- 



Leaves oblong-elliptical, shining above. Flowers in pedunculate 

 umbellate or corymbose axillary and terminal racemes; stigma 

 nearly as broad as the ovary. (Flowers sometimes staminate 

 only) 7. C. T/tonninffti- 



