125 



Oedeb XV. POLYGALEiE (by Prof. Oliver). 



Flowers irregular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, free or 2 anterior connate, 2 

 Pj* (wing-sepals) larger, petaloid, wing-like, rarely subequal. Petals 3 or 

 5, decimate, free from each other but usually adherent to the staminal sheath, 

 lower petal {carina) concave or galeate. Stamens 8, 5 or 6, monadelphous, 

 the sheath open above and usually adnate to the base of the petals ; anthers 

 1- or 2-celled, opening by a transverse valve or terminal pore. Ovary 2- 

 celled or 1-celled by abortion or (in Carpolobia) 3-celled. Style simple, 

 often incurved, filiform or variously dilated above ; stigma lobed. Fruit a 

 compressed 2-celled capsule dehiscing loculicidally by the margins, baccate 



a l~?~ ce H e d, or samaroid. Seeds pendulous, frequently strophiolate ; testa 

 often pilose ; embryo axile with flattened cotyledons and a short superior 

 radicle, with or without a fleshy albumen. — Herbs shrubs or rarely arbores- 

 cent ; diffuse erect or scandent. Leaves usually alternate, simple, entire, ex- 

 stipulate. Flowers racemose capitate or panicled, bracteate. 



A considerable and widely-spread Order of temperate and tropical countries. 



n! 1S ?' Stameus 8 (or 6). Ovary 2-celled. Fruit a compressed 



""" e 1. POLYGALA. 



etals 3. Stamens 8. Ovary 1-celled by abortion. Fruit a samara . 2. Securidaca. 

 Petals 5, nearly equal. Stamens 5. Ovary 3-celled. Fruit drupaceous 3. Carpolobia. 



1. POLYGALA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PL i. 136. 



' Flowers irregular. Sepals 5, unequal, free or the 2 anterior connate, 2 

 interior (wing-sepals) much larger, petaloid and wing-like, deciduous or per- 

 sistent. Petals 3, separately adnate to the sheath of stamens ; median petal 

 (carina) usually exceeding the 2 lateral petals, galeate, usually crested on the 

 •>ack, if 5 petals the 2 upper are minute and squamiform. Stamens 8 (or 6), 

 ^onadelphous, the sheath open above and adherent below to the petals; "an- 

 thers 1- or 2-celled." Ovary 2-celled with 1 ovule in each cell. Style in- 

 curved above and often dilated; stigma various. Capsule membranous or 

 coriaceous, compressed, usually emarginate or 2-fid, dehiscing loculicidally at 

 the edges. Seeds usually strophiolate and pilose, with or without albumen. 

 —Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate or fascicled, rarely opposite or verticil- 

 Jate. Flowers in terminal or lateral, axillary or extra-axillary racemes or 

 leads, usually rather small, colour various. 



A large genus of temperate and tropical climates in both hemispheres. 30-40 species 

 ?]* peculiar to the Cape Flora. Of the 20 tropical Africau species but 3 appear to 

 • common to India, 3 occur within the limits of the Cape Flora, and but 1 is ldentifi- 

 ab| e with a New World species. 15 or 16 are confined to tropical Africa, and of these but 4 

 ° ccur > Q both the east and west of the continent, the majority being western. 



• Anterior sepals free. 



* Brads persistent, at least until expansion of the flowers. 



Racemes terminal. 



"'gs about \ in. diam., orbicular, showy. Leaves linear-lanceolate 



or l mear . Pedicel9 -^ \. P. Gomestana. 



"Jg* not exceeding} in. . 

 *"*«*, probably 2-3 ft. Leaves linear. Lateral petals hooked 

 or semihastate . 2 - P - multiflora. 



