166 TRIANDRIA MONOGYNTA. HippOCWtea. 



one-celled, one-valved. Seeds two, broad-winged, affixed 

 to the bottom of the capsules by the apex of the wing. 



2. H. obtusifolia. R. 



Shrubby, climbing by the help of cirrhose branchlets. 

 Leaves elliptically oblong, enlire, 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 branches ligneous, and covered with 

 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 serrate,) 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 y 

 a large, fleshy receptacle receiving the base of the germ ; its 

 margin becomes thin, and is divided into three, tapering, 

 antheriferous segments, wliith 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, three- 

 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 

 side, lodged about its middle, of a narrow-oblong shape, 

 with a large, oblong, membranaceous wing proceeding from 

 the base, and attached by its extremity to the very base of 



