Gyrocarpus. | CXVIA. HERNANDIACE& (SPRAGUE). 189 
Oper OXVIa. HERNANDIACEH. (By T. A. Sprague.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite or by abortion monecious or polygamous, 
regular. Perianth superior; segments free or shortly united below, 
in two valvate 3-5-merous whorls, or more rarely in one imbricate 
4—8-merous whorl. Stamens 3-5 in a single whorl, opposite the outer 
perianth-segments when the perianth is double, or generally 4 (2-7) 
when the perianth is single; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing introrsely or 
laterally by 2 valves. Staminodes more or less glandular, in 1 or 
2 whorls usually outside the stamens, or absent; those of the outer 
whorl in pairs at the base of the stamens, those of the inner whorl 
alternate with the stamens. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; ovule solitary, 
pendulous, anatropous. Fruit dry, often longitudinally ribbed, some- 
times with 2-4 longitudinal wings (Jiligera), or with 2 terminal wings 
formed by accrescent perianth-segments (Gyrocarpus), or wingless and 
enclosed in an inflated cupule (Hernandia). Seed solitary, exalbuminous. 
Embryo straight; cotyledons large, plano-convex, more or less lobed, 
or flattened and spirally twisted.— Unarmed trees or shrubs, sometimes. 
scandent. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, simple or digitate, 3-7-nerved 
at or a little above the base. Cymes axillary, peduncled, corymbose or 
panicled, bracteate or ebracteate. Flowers usually small, greenish- 
yellow, cream-coloured or white. 
Genera 4, tropical; species about 35. 
The genera Gyrocarpus and Iiligera, together with the Tropical American 
Sparattanthelium, were regarded by Bentham and Hooker as’ a sub-order of 
Combretacee; it has been considered better, however, to follow Pax (in Engl. & 
Prantl, Pflanzenfam. iii. 2, 129) in regarding them and Hernandia as forming a. 
distinct order allied to Laurinee. 
Cymes ebracteate; perianth 4-1 lin. long ; fruit with two 
terminal wings . : : - : . : 
Cymes bracteate; perianth 2-4 lin. long; fruit without 
terminal wings. 
Leaves simple; flowers moneecious ; fruit not winged, 
1. GYROCARPUS, 
surrounded by an inflated cupule . . . 2. HERNANDIA, 
Leaves digitate ; flowers hermaphrodite; fruit with 
2-4 lateral wings . ‘ : 2 : : . 3&8. ILLIGERA. 
1. GYROCARPUS, Jacq.; Benth. et Hook. f. 
Gen. Pl. i. 689. 
Flowers polygamous, mostly male. Perianth 4-8-partite ; lobes in 
a single whorl, imbricate, equal or unequal, 2 larger than the rest and 
accrescent in hermaphrodite flowers. Stamens much exserted, usually 
4 (2-7), inserted at the base of the perianth ; anthers dehiscing laterally, 
valves opening upwards. Staminodes more or less clavate, as many as 
and alternate with the stamens, or more numerous. Style straight ; 
stigma obliquely expanded. Fruit with 2 terminal wings formed by 
