Oligomeris. | BIXACE (Harv.) 65 
pumilum, Turez. Bull. Acad. Mose. XVI. 1. p. 51. Reseda microphylla 
Presl. R. 7533, Drege. Reseda capensis, Thunb. l. c. 
Var. a, pumila; diffuse, flexuous, with short, blunt leaves. Drege 
75334. 
Var. 8. virgata; erect ; flowering branches long and virgate ; leaves 
acute or subacute. FR. dipetala, HB. & Z. ! No, 113. 
Has. y, Winterfeld, Drege/ 8. In the Karroo, among the Zwarteberg Mounts. 
and the Langekloof, George ; and in the Winterfield, Beaufort, HZ. § Z. / Rhinoster- 
kopf, Burke / Langekloof, Thunberg. (Herb. Hook., T.C.D., Sond.) 
A small, woody suffrutex, variable in size and ramification ; sometimes very 
short, scraggy and densely branched, spreading over the surface of the arid soil ; 
sometimes (in moister places ?) tall, erect and virgate. Such variations are common 
among Karroo plants. There is no floral character to distinguish the above varie- 
ties. The flowers are often polygamous. Thunberg says that his plant is “ 3 feet 
high or more ;’ Drege’s specimens are 3-12 inches only. : = 
3. 0. spathulata (E. Mey. MSS.) ; glabrous and glaucous, erect ; leaves 
broadly spathulate, densely set ; spikes dense ; bracts shorter than the 
calyx, subulate, spreading ; sepals elliptic-oblong, blunt, shorter than 
the ovate petals ; stamens 6-8. Holopetalum spathulatum, Turez. Anim. 
p. 60, Muell. in Mohl. & Schl. Bot. Zeit. 1856. p. 39. 
2 SES On the hills, near the mouth of the Orange River, Drege. October (Herb. 
A ae. somewhat glaucous, half woody plant, Branches erect, striate. Leaves 
thickly inserted, tapering at base, with a broad apex, 4-3 inch long, thick and fleshy. 
Branches terminated with long, dense spikes of greenish fldéwers. Capsule globose, 
inflated, open, with four diverging points, 
4. 0. Burchellii et Bot. Zeit. 1856. p. 39); ‘“ dwarf, glabrous ; 
branches straight, slender, elongate ; leaves linear ; petals obovate-ob- 
long ; capsules obovoid-oblong.” J. Muell. l.c. ( Holopetalum.) 
Has. South Africa, Burch, Cat. Geogr. 1850 and 2549. in Herb. DC. . 
Unknown to me. It is said to differ, by its longer capsules, from the other species. 
OrpverR X. BIXACEZ, Endl. 
(By W. H. Hanver.) ; 
(Bixacex, Endl, Gen. No. excy. Flacourtianex, A. Rich.—DC. Prod. 1. 
p. 255. Bixinee, Kunth.—DC, Prod. 1. p. 259. Homalinex, R. Br., 
Endl. No. exevi. DC. Prod. 2. p. 53. Flacourtiacex, Lindl. Veg. Kingd, 
No. ex. and Homaliacex, No. cclxxxiv.) 
Flowers frequently, by abortion, unisexual. Calyx free, or more or 
less adnate with the lower part of the ovary ; sepals 4-7-12-14, im- 
bricate or valvate, persistent. Stamens hypogynous or perigynous, de- 
finite or indefinite, free ; anthers introse, two-celled. Ovary sessile or 
half-inferior, unilocular (or imperfectly pluri-locular), with two or more 
parietal placentz, and two or many anatropous ovules. Fruit either a 
pulpy-dehiscent capsule, or a fleshy berry. Seeds albuminous, with 
an axile embryo ; leafy cotyledons ; and radicle next the hilum. 
Trees or shrubs, with alternate, simple, entire or toothed leav uentl - 
lucid-dotted, either without stipules, = with caducous ones. el fas 
small size, variously disposed, often greenish. ; 8 
