Mr. J. Miers on the Affinities of the Icacinaceje. 



221 



which are generally coriaceous, entire, or slightly toothed; symme- 

 trical flowers mostly hermaphrodite, often polygamous; calyx 

 small, campanulate, toothed, free, or sometimes conjoined with the 

 ovarium by the intervention of a fleshy disk ; stamens generally 

 equal in number to the petals, and then always alternate with 

 them, usually five, rarely fewer, and often arising from a conspi- 

 cuous disk ; ovarium 5-locular, often by abortion only 3-, 2- or 

 1 -celled ; ovules anatropal, often resupinated, generally two in 

 each cell, attached by a cupshaped podosperm to the axis or dis- 

 sepiment, and either erect, horizontal, or suspended ; seeds often 

 solitary in each cell, frequently with a conspicuous arillus ; em- 

 bryo orthotropal, albuminous, or rarely exalbuminous, with the 

 radicle pointed towards the hilum. 



The families that at present appear to constitute this group may 

 be distinguished from each other by the following leading 

 characters : — 



The Icacinacece may be thus defined. Trees or shrubs with 

 alternate entire petiolate leaves, generally more or less coriaceous, 

 smooth, exstipulate. Flowers hermaphrodite, or polygamous by 

 abortion, generally very small, and very simple and symmetrica] 

 in their structure : inflorescence axillary or terminal, fasciculate 

 or in many-flowered cymes or branching panicles, each flower 

 distinctly articulated upon a short braeteated pedicel; bract 

 minute, either very caducous, or abortive. Calyx usually small, 

 cupshaped, 5-, rarely 4-toothed, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, 

 consisting of 5, rarely 4 petals, alternate with the teeth of the 

 calyx, always distinct, though often connivent at base into a 

 tubular form by the slight adhesion of the filaments, more or 

 less linear, of fleshy textvire, valvate in aestivation, with the 

 apical points inflected, reflexed and deciduous. Stamens equal 

 in number to the petals, always alternate with them, and 



