Trianthema,] LXVII. FICOIDEH (OLIVER). 587 
6. TRIAN THEMA, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. i. 855. 
Calyx 5-fid, lobes with a dorsal subapical cusp. Petals 0. Stamens 
3-5-10 or o, perigynous, when definite alternating with the calyx- 
lobes. Ovary free, usually obtuse, truncate or umbilicate at apex, 1-2- 
celled ; styles 2 or 1 - ovules solitary or oo, from a ‘ basilar f gesen 
Capsule membranous or coriaceous, 1—2-celled, 1—2— oo-seeded, cireum- 
sciss. Seeds rotundate-reniform, compressed, often plicate-rugose, 
lack ; embryo annulate.—Herbs or undershrubs, glabrous or papillose. 
Leaves opposite, unequal, entire, linear to rotundate, often fleshy ; 
petiole dilted with membranous stipuliform margins. Flowers axillary, 
Solitary or fascicled in Trop. African species. 
A small Old World genus, widely spread in warm regions. 
se 1: 
lowers solitary, 
,5tamens 10 or more. Leaves obovate or rotundate 1. T. monogyna. 
owers in glomerules. 
Calyces free (not consolidated). : : 
Leaves oblanceolate to rotundate .... . + . 2. 7. crystallina, 
eaves linear 2... er eee . = set ter 
Sty] oe consolidated below. Leaves linear . 4. T. salsoloides. 
Yles 2. 
Flowers solitary . + ee 
6. T. pentandra, 
Owersin glomerules . . , 
+ T. monogyna, LZ. Mant. 69. Diffuse wise or seedlings as- 
cending, branches flexuose, alternate, distichous, more or less ancipi- 
tous; wholly glabrous. Leaves rather fleshy, obovate or obovate- 
rotundate, entire or emarginate, sometimes mucronate, usually 4~1 in. 
ong’; petiole distinct, 1} in., one leaf of each pair alternately much 
smaller. Flowers solitary, sessile, sheathed by the stipuliform mem- 
branous base of the petioles. Perianth-lobes obtuse, with a dorsal 
subapical awn or apiculus. Stamens 10-12 (or more). Ovary truncate 
above ; Style 1. Seeds few, plicate-rugose.-—DC. Prod. iit. an sow id 
obeordata, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 445; 7. flecuosa, 8. et T. Pl. Guin. 221. 
Upper Guinea. Cape Coast, T. Vogel! Christiansburg, Thonning. 
Also in Tropical America and Asia. 
2. 8, crystallina, V.; DC. Prod. iii. 352. Ascending or diffuse 
With spreading: or prostrate branches, repeatedly 2—3-chotomous from 
the base, annual or biennial ; branches, at least towards the extremities, 
and leaves cellular-papillose. Leaves fleshy, oblanceolate obovate or 
Totundate, obtuse, usually cuneately narrowed into the petiole, much 
reduced and often roundish and ‘subcordate on profusely flowering 
ranches ; $2 in. long, petiole usually distinct, short, sega rl 
Owers in axillary few- or many-flowered often dense fascicles. Calyx 
5-fid, lobes equalling tube, ovate or deltoid swith a lanceolate or short 
and obtuse dorsal apiculus. Stamens 5. Ovary truncate, 1-celled ; 
style 1, equalling ovary. Seeds 2, plicate-rugose. 
Nile Land. Widely spread in different provinces. 
