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XXII. STERCULiACE^. 237 



11. RULINGIA, E. Br. 



(Aehilleopsis, Turcz,) 



Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, broad and concave or convolute at the base, 

 with a siiial], broad, or linear ligula at the top. Stamens shortly or scarcely 

 connate at the base, 5 without anthers (staminodia), linear-lanceolate and 

 petal-like, alternate with the petals and connivent or spreading; 5 short, op- 

 posite the petals, and perfect, the anther-cells parallel.^ Ovary sessile, 5-celled 

 with 2 or rarely 3 ovules in each cell, styles connate, at least at the top, ov 

 rarely quite free. Capsule tomentose or beset with prickJcs or soft setae, 

 opening locnlicidally in valves, or the carpels separating. Seeds 1 or 2 in 

 each cell or carpel, ascending, usually strophiolate. Albumen fleshy; coty- 

 ledons flat. — ^Shrubs or undershmbs, with stellate tonientum or hairs. Leave 



entire, toothed, or lobed. Stipules narrow, deciduous, the upper ones often 

 laciniate. Flowers inostly white, small, in leaf-opposed or terminal, rarely 

 axillary cymes. Petals shorter than the calyx. Strophiola of the seeds small,, 

 variable in shape in the same species. 



The genus is confined to Australia, with the execption of one Madagascar species. 



A. Leaves of tliejlowering branches or their lohes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, mostly 

 above 1 and often % or % in. long, entire or serrate, not nndidate^ crenate or crisped. Cap- 

 side locidicidaL 



Leaves or their lobes quite entire, softly houi-y-tomcntose . . , 1. ^, salvifolia, 



■Leaves or their lobes serrate, velvety or hirsute, at least underneath. 



Capsule scarcely dehiscent, nearly glabrous, with rigid prickly 



setsB 2. iZ. pannosa. 



Capsule dehiscent, tomentose with soft pubescent setae , . . 3. i^. rugosa, 



■B. Leaves ovate or ohlong^ irregularlg crenate or lohed, often nndulaie or crisped, 

 mostlg above 1 in. and often 2 or *6 in. long. Calyx very prominently angled in the hud 

 {except R. loxophylla). Capsule locuUcldal and often septicidal also. 

 Buds obtuse. 



Petals gibbous at the base, abruptly ligulate. Leaves glabrous 

 or pubescent above. 

 Calyx-lobes erect or couniveut. Leaves large, h'tfle lobed . . 4. -ff. corylifolia. 

 Calyx-lobes rounded, very spreading. Leaves smaller, much- 



lobed 7. H. j^latyealyx. 



l*etals uot gibbous, tapering into a short linear ligula. Leaves 



littie-lobed, hoary-tomentose ^- ^ grandiflora. 



Petals not gibbous. Ligula short, oblong-spathulate. Leaves 



oblique, densely velvety 10. ^. loxophylla, 



Buds acute. Petals tapering into a slender hgula about as long 



as the calyx. Leaves much-Iobed, often crisped, nearly glabrous 



or pubescent above 6. i2. mahafolia. 



C. Leaves {except R. loxoiihylla) crenate, more or less undulate, and crisped or bullate, 

 but httle lobed, and rarely exceeding 1 in. Buds small, scarcely angular. Capsule locu- 

 t-cidal, sometimes also seplicidat^ or the carpels separating. 



Cynics pedunculate. Leaves glabrons or scabrous above. 



Buds acute. Ligulcs long and slender . * 6. i2. mahafolia. 



Buds obtuse. 

 Leaves narrow-oblong and crenate, or, when luxuriant, ovate- 

 lanceolate aud bliglitly lobed 9. ^- hermanni^foha. 



Leaves mostly ovate and lobed. 



Calyx about 3 lines diameter. Petals not gibbous at the 



base 8. i2. parvifora. 



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