2 DILLENIACEJJ. 



Goudof) ; but the differences from the European type, considerable as they appear, are 

 more or less annihilated by the comparison of the variable states of the North American 

 plant, as defined by Asa Gray, thus exhibiting a remarkable instance of a climatic variety. 

 The large, margin'ate, somewhat dotted achenia, and the size of their beak, are the same in 

 all forms of the species ; the number of petals increases usually in the R. repens of Texas. 

 The beak becomes straightish in the common form of the United States, and the only diffe- 

 rence between the var. tropicus and the var. marylandicus or other forms of North America, 

 would consist in the usually reflexed calyx. — Hab. Jamaica !, Mac/., on the Blue Mountains, 

 elev. 5000' ; [Andes of S. America!, on alpine pastures]. 



4*. R. parviflorus, L. Subdecumbent, villous ; leaves roundish, 3-5-lobed ; calyx 

 at length reflexed, equalling the petals; carpels roundish, marginate, tuberculate, with a 

 short, usually hooked beak: margiu acute. — Rchb.Ic. Germ. 3. r\ 22. — Hab. Jamaica !, 

 Mac/., naturalized on elevated pastures ; [Europe !, Levant !, S. U. States !, California!]. 



II. DILLENIACE/E. 



Flower-organs distinct from each other. Sepals persistent. Seeds arillate : embryo mi- 

 nute, included in the top of the endosperm. — Leaves penninerved, not divided. Stem in 

 the West Indian genera woody. 



The leaves of the Belimea (which is the tribe of the Order, represented in America) are 

 usually rough with asperities (not with hairs), and used for polishing, as those of Curatella. 

 No properties but the astringent principle are known. 



1. TETRACERA, L. 



Sepals 5, one exterior, two interior, subvalvate, not exceeding the outer ones. Stamens 

 indefinite : anther-cells minute, divergent. Carpels 2-5 (-1), follicular: seeds 1-5. — Shrub9, 

 usually scandent ; panicle terminal or lateral. 



1. T. volubilis, L. {ex syn. Pluhi.). Leaves rough, obovate, serrate: serratures re- 

 mote, terminating the 8-16 equidistant veins, decreasing towards the leaf-base ; panicle 

 loose : branches racemiform ; flowers polygamous ; sepals obovate, silky on the inner side ; 

 carpels one-seeded. — Plukn. Aim. t. 146./. 1; Besc. Fl. 7. t. 459; Rich. Cub. t. 4. — T. 

 Pccppigiana, Schlecht. ! T. jamaicensis, DC. ex Mac/. Tigarea aspera, Besc. — Linnaeus 

 confounded several plants under the above name ; but his observation on Plukenet's figure 

 shows that be had Schlechtendal's species in view, which, according to Herb. Hook., is the T. 

 volubilis, L. fil. and Sm. This is the only Billeniacea in Macfadyen's Flora, and sent by him 

 to Sir W. Hooker ; but his description and locality also apply to Bavilla surinamensis, which 

 he confounded with it. Hence what he says of the leaves and the fruit belong to this, 

 while he describes the calyx of Bavilla. — Hab. Jamaica!, Mac/., in woods; Barbadoes; 

 [Cuba ! and Mexico ! to Rio Janeiro !]. 



2. T. ovalifolia, BC. Leaves rough, obovate or obovate-oblong, entire, refuse or mu- 

 cronate : veins equidistant, 8-12, prominent beneath ; panicle loose : branches short, race- 

 miform; flowers polygamous; sepals roundish, pubescent and ciliate; carpels one-seeded: 

 arillus large, laciniate. — Beless. Ic. 1. t. 68. — T. asperula, Miq. — A scandent shrub, similar 

 to the preceding, and variable in the form of its leaves, but without any serratures. — Hab. 

 Trinidad!, Cr. ; [Guiana!]. 



2. DA VILLA, Vand. 



Sepals 5, two exterior, two interior, subvalvate, excrescent, much exceeding the three 

 outer ones, and enclosing the fruit. Stamens indefinite: anther-cells minute, divergent. 

 Carpels 1 (-3) : stigma peltate. Follicle single, rupturing, one-seeded (by abortion of a 

 second ovule). — Scandent shrubs ; panicles terminal and axillary ■. flowers yellow. 



3. D. rugosa, Poir. Leaves rough, ovate-oblong, subentire or repand : petiole margi- 

 nate upwards; pauicle constituted of terminal and axillary corymbs: pedicels pilose ; inner 

 sepals crustaceous, and at length shining, glabrate— Beless. Ic. 1. 1. 71 ; Rich. Cub. t. 2, 3. 

 — L\ brasiliana, BC. D. surinamensis, Miq. D. ciliata, Rich. /.- the younger plant, with 

 downy inner sepals. D. Sagneana, Rich.-, a form with broader leaves, and the iuflores- 



