166. " TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Hippocrotea. 
- ghe-célled, one-valved. “Seedle. two, broad:winged) affixed 
to the bottom of the tec by the apex of the mine 
2. H. obtusifolia. R. 
Shrubby, climbing by the help of cirrhose branche 
Leaves eliipically oblong; entire, obtuse. | Corymbs termi- 
nal and axillary. Capsules obovate, four-seeded. 
A native of the coast of Coromandel. Flowering time in 
the Botanic garden, March and April; the seeds take one 
year to ripen. 
_ Stems and larger Secoibhes ligneous, and covered writh 
cracked: spongy grey bark, climbing to a great extent by 
the help of the smaller, round, smooth, diverging, opposite 
branchlets, which take a turn or two round their supporters, 
Leaves opposite, short-petioled, oblong, entire, (large luxu- 
riant leaves are sometimes obscurely ‘pahnliet obtuse, firm, 
polished, length from three to four inches. Stipules of the 
leaves four-fold, minute, subulate; those of the branchlets 
larger. Corymbs terminal, or from the exterior axills, often 
compoundly dichotomous, and shorter than the leaves, 
Bractes minute, ovate. Flowers small, pale greenish yellow. 
Calyx five-leaved. Petals five, ovate-lanceolate. Nectary, 
a large, fleshy receptacle receiving the base of the germ} its 
margin becomes thin, and is divided into three, tapering, 
antheriferous segments, which are at first erect, but soon be- 
come revolute, Filaments no other than the three “segments 
of the nectary. Anthers two, round, one-celled lobes. Germ 
three-lobed, immersed in the thick, fleshy nectary, threé-” 
celled, each cell containing several ‘seeds, attached to the | 
axis, Style the length of the filaments ; stigma three-toothed. | 
Capsules three, obovate, thin, smooth, slightly veined, about — 
two inches long, by one and a half broad, one-celled, two- 
valved. Seeds generally, four in each capsule, two on each 
pe about its lial of, a si ee —_ 3 
