13G combuetacejE. (combretum family.) 



Order 51. COMBRETACEiE. (Combretum Family.) 



Tropical trees or shrubs, -with entire cxstipulatc leaves, and axillary 

 spiked or capitate flowers. — Calyx-tube coherent with the 1 -celled, 2-5- 

 ovuled ovary ; the limb 4 - 5H'left, mostly deciduous. Petals 4-5, often 

 wanting. Stamens 4- 15, inserted with the petals on the calj.x. Style 

 slender: stigma simple. Fruit drupaceous or baccate, or dry and indehis- 

 cent, often winged. Seed solitary, suspended, anatropous, without albu- 

 men. Cotyledons convolute or variously folded. 



1. LAGUNCULARIA, Gicrt. 



Flowers in spikes. Calyx-tube obconic.al, tlio linih 5-partC(l, obtuse, persist- 

 ent. Petals 5, minute. Stamens 10. Style subulate ; stigma capitate. Ovary 

 1-celIed, 2-ovulecl. Drupe coriaceous, cuneate-oliovate, coin])resscd, angled, 

 l-secdc(l. Seeds germinating in tlic drupe. Cotyledons convolute. Kadicle 

 elongated. — Maritime shrubs, with opposite elliptical smooth and fleshy leaves, 

 on bi^^landular petioles, and small flowers, in sinijile or compound axillary and 

 terminal spikes. 



1. L. racemosa, Gan-t. Spikes erect, ri^^id, Iioary-tomento«e, the lateral 

 ones solitary, the terminal ones in threes, sim])leor branched ; flowers scattered ; 

 calyx-tubc obconical, fiuTOwed, wing-angled in fruit. — Soutli Florida. Jane 

 to Aug. — A shrub or small tree, with the habit of the Mangrove. 



2. L. glabriflora, Prcsl. Spikes spreading, slender, smooth, the lateral 

 ones in pairs, the tLrniinal ones in threes or fours; flowers minute, crowded, 

 deciduous ; calyx-tube cup-shaped, terete, even, with two o])i)Osite bractlets ap- 

 prcssed lo sides. — Eanks of the JManitec River, Soutli^Florida, liiif/el. Juno. — 

 Perhaps a t^terilc form of tiie preceding. 



2. CONOCARPUS, Gxrt. 



Flowers densely crowded in a globular head. Calyx-tube about as long as 

 the compressed 2-ovuled ovary ; the limb 5-cleft, deciduous. Petals none. Sta- 

 mens 5-10, cxsertcd. Anthers cordate. Fruit coriiu,'eous, scale-like, closely 

 imbricated and indchisccnt. Cotyledons convolute. — Trees or sinubs, with 

 alternate entire and somewliat fleshy leaves. Heads of flowers spiked or paniclcd. 



1. C. erecta, Jacq. Ikanchlets angular, smooth; leaves smooth, oblouf: 

 or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed into a bifrlandular i>eliolc ; heads of 

 flowers sessile, or on short and spreading pedicels ; cone of fruit ovoid. — Var. 

 RERicKA, DC. Branehes, leaves, and panicles silky and hoary; lowest Icavcj 

 mostly obovnfe and obtuse or cmarpinate ; ovary abortive. — Sandy seashore, 

 Tampa IJav, Florida, nnd southward. Janiiarv and Fcbninrv. — A shrub or 

 Fmall tree. I.icavc» 2' - 4' long. Heads of IVuii 3" - 6" long. Flowers grceninh, 

 minute. 



