GETHYLLIS 



289 



Floral diagram of Gesneria, 

 after Eichlcr; d= disc-gland. 



formed below ground, e.g. Nacgelia, Isoloma, &c. A peculiar mor- 

 phology and life-history is found in Streptocarpus (g.v. ). 



Us- sol. or in cymose infls. of various types, ? , usu. markedly [ . 

 K (5), us>u. with very stout teeth, generally valvate ; C (5), often 

 2 -lipped, imhr. (in Kamondia, &c. it is 

 nearly rotate and reg.); A usu. 4, didyna- 



mous, or 2, or 5 (Ramondia, &c.), alt. 

 with corolla lobes; stds. often found. At 

 the base of the flower-tube is a di*c, whose 

 various shapes form important marks in 

 distinguishing gen. ; it may be ring-shaped 

 (thin or thick), 5-angled, 5-lobed, or re- 

 duced to 5 or fewer glands. G sup., or 

 inf. (see below); always (2), i-loc. with 

 parietal plac. which sometimes project 

 inwards so far that it becomes imperfectly 

 2-loc. ; ovules oo , anatr. ; style simple ; 

 stigma often bilobed. Fr. usu. a caps , 

 splitting loculic. into 2 valves, each of 

 which may again split into 2 ; sometimes (Ramondia) the caps, is 

 septicidal, or opens only at the tip, or the fr. may be fleshy or 

 berry-like. Seeds small and numerous, with endosperm ( II) or 

 without (most of i). Embryo straight. 



Fls. mostly protandrous; their large size and bright colours suit 

 them to insects. Saintpaulia (</..), Klugia, and others exhibit two 

 types of symmetry on the same plant, the fls. (and usu. the 1.) on 

 the left side of the infl. being like the reflections of those on the right 

 (enantiostyly) . 



Germin. interesting, esp..in Streptocarpus (q.v ). The cots, are 

 epigeal, and usu. thin, one larger than the other and often growing 

 subsequently to some size : buds are often found in their axils. 

 Anisophylly is very common, and usu. alt. on one side and the other. 



None of the G. are economic plants ; many are hothouse tavourites. 

 Classification and chief genera (after Fritsch) : 



" The relationships to allied orders, especially Scrophulariaceae, 

 Orobanchaceae and Bignoniaceae, are so close that it is almost im- 

 possible to draw the dividing lines. The B. are most sharply marked 

 off by the structure and formation of their fruit and seed, and often 

 by their divided leaves. The O. might very well be placed in G- as 

 a parasitic sub-order. The placentation and structure of the ovary is 

 the chief mark of distinction between the G., O., and S-" 



I. CYRT ANDROID EAR (ovary free, sup.) : Ramondia, 



Saintpaulia, Didymocarpus, Streptocarpus, Aeschynanthus, 

 Besleria, Cyrtandra, Columnea. 



II. GESNERIOIDEAE (ovary more or less inf.) : Achimenes, 



Isoloma, Gesneria. 



Gesnouinia Gaudich. Urticaceae (4). i Canaries. 

 Gestroa Becc. Violaceae. i Malaya. 

 Getah ( Malay) = gutta. 



Gethyllis Plum, ex L. Amaryllidaceae (i)- 10 Cape Col. Some 

 ed. fr. 



W. 



