Rhipsalis. | LXVI. CACTACEA (OLIVER). 581 
1. RHIPSALIS, Gert.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. i. 850. 
Calyx-teeth very short, 3-co. Petals 6-10, spreading oblong. Sta- 
mens 20 more or less. Ovary glabrous. Seeds exalbuminous.—Fleshy 
shrubs with elongate terete (angular or flattened) branches. Leaves 
Squamiform. Flowers small, lateral, sessile. 
The following species belongs to the section Hurhipsalis, characterized by small 
lateral whitish flowers, with glabrous ovary and pellucid pisiform berry. 
oi R. Cassytha, Gert.; DC. Prod. iii. 476. Pendent shrub, reach- 
mg 4-9 ft. or more, from rocks and moss-grown trees; branches 
cylindrical, smooth, glaucescent, articulated at the insertion (either 
ichotomous or) approximately verticillate, occasionally rooting; in 
young plants, thinly clothed at first with deciduous tufted sete. Flowers 
whitish, sessile, lateral, often numerous or crowded along the branches, 
é-t in. diameter. Calyx-limb minute, unequally lobed. Petals 6—7, 
spreading. Stamens about 20. Stigma 4-partite with oblong obtuse 
eshy somewhat spreading lobes. Berries pale yellowish-white; pulp 
“iscous ; seeds black shining.—Bot. Mag. 3080. 
Upper Guinea. Prince’s Island (very fragmentary), Barter / 
ower Guinea. Pungo Andongo and Golungo Alto, Dr. Welwitsch! 
Mozamb. Distr. iistanbadie Cambetis, 3000-3500 ft.), Dr. Kirk! Waller! 
Var.? tenuior. Branches very slender, simply repeatedly dichotomous, ovary (after 
flowering) cylindrical-oblong. oes Po, Rows if This form I think probably speci- 
cally distinct, but our material is small. , 
€ above description is mainly from Dr, Welwitsch’s full notes and excellent An- 
80lan specimens, 
So in Ceylon, Mauritius, and Tropical America. 
Orver LXVII. FICOIDER. (By Prof. Oliver.) 
Flowers regular, usually hermaphrodite. Calyx polysepalous, — 
» Inbricate, or gamosepalous 4—5-lobed, free or adnate more or less 
to the ovary; persistent. Petals 0 or minute and membranous or (in 
Mesembryanthemum) indefinite coloured. Stamens perigynous or in 
polysepalous genera hypogynous, definite or indefinite ; filaments free 
°r variously connate at base; anthers 2-celled, oblong elliptical or 
subdidymous, dehiscing longitudinally. Disk 0 or annulate. Ovary 
free (except in Mesembryanthemum), 1—2—2# -carpellary, syncarpous Sai 
i in Gisekia); styles or stigmas as many as cells of ovary; te 
Solitary few or co.” Fruit various ; seed albuminous, albumen ees y 
‘rinaceous; embryo curved or peripherical—Herbs or low r a me 
Caves opposite alternate or pseudo-verticillate, simple, often fleshy ; 
Stipules 0 or scarious. Flowers solitary or (usually) cymose, — 
A considerable Order of tropical and subtropical countries. 
vary inferior, 
Stals a, Capsule loculicidal » . . s+ 2 + + ¢ 
ttals 0, Fruit indehiscent, a nut or drupaceous. . 
1, MeseMBRYANTHEMUM, 
2, TETRAGONIA, 
