PUNICACEAE. 



259 



Stamens numerous in many series on the calyx-tube; filaments filiform; 

 anthers versatile. Ovary several-celled, inferior; styles united; stigma 

 slightly lobed. Ovules numerous, superposed in 2 series. Fruit a several- 

 celled berry crowned with the calyx, with a leathery coat, its septa mem- 

 branous. Seeds angled, in a watery pulp, with a leathery testa. Embryo 

 with spirally convolute cotyledons, each auricled at the base. Only the 

 following genus containing the one typical species and perhaps one other. 



1. PUNIC A L. 



Characters of the family. [Latin, from the Eoman name for Carthage, 

 where the fruit was obtained.] 



1. Punica Granatum L. POMEGRANATE. 

 (Fig. 279.) A shrub, or a tree reaching a 

 height of 20. Foliage glabrous; leaves 

 leathery, oval, elliptic or oblong, varying to 

 broadest slightly above or below the middle, 

 i'-3i' long, obtuse or acute, or rarely retuse, 

 flat, short-petioled; peduncles stout, 1-several- 

 flowered ; calyx tube turbinate, becoming 

 campanulate, later subglobose ; lobes trian- 

 gular or triangular-lanceolate, much shorter 

 than the tube, acute, finally deciduous ; petals 

 scarlet, their blades suborbicular or orbicular - 

 obovate, 1' long or less, short-clawed; fruit 

 subglobose or spheroidal, 2i'-5' in diameter. 



Commonly planted, and locally escaped from 

 cultivation and naturalized. Native of Persia. 

 Recorded as grown in Bermuda as early as 1621. 



Family 4. TERMINALIACEAE J. St. Hil. 



WHITE MANGROVE FAMILY. 



Shrubs or trees, or vines in tropical regions. Leaves alternate or oppo- 

 site, simple, leathery ; stipules wanting. Inflorescence racemose or capitate. 

 Flowers often apetalous, regular, perfect or polygamous. Calyx with 4 

 or 5 valvate, deciduous or rarely persistent sepals. Corolla of 4 or 5 petals, 

 inserted at the base of the calyx, or wanting. Stamens twice as many as 

 the petals or more ; filaments distinct ; anthers introrse. Ovary 1-celled ; 

 style terminal; stigma entire or nearly so. Ovules few, suspended, anat- 

 ropous. Fruit drupaceous or berry-like, indehiscent, often crowned with 

 the accrescent calyx. Seed solitary, filling the cavity ; endosperm none ; 

 embryo straight, with convolute cotyledons. About 15 genera and 285 

 species, tropical in distribution, most abundant in the Old World. 



1. CONOCARPUS L. 



A shrub or tree of the seacoast, with alternate entire leathery leaves, the 

 petioles '2-glandular, the small greenish perfect flowers in spicate or panicled 



