13G COMlJUr.TACKvE. (cOMimKTL'M lAMlLY.) 



Okdku '>[. COMBRETACEyT]. (Combkktu.m Family.) 



Tropical trees or shrubs, with entire exstipulate leaves, and axillary 

 spiked or cajjitate llowi-rs. — Calyx-tube coherent with the l-eelled, 2 - "j- 

 ovuled ovar}- ; the limb 4 - 5-elef't, mostly deciduous. Petals 4-5, often 

 wanting. Stamens 4- 1.0, inserted with the petals on the caly.x. Style 

 slender: stigma simj)le. Fruit drupaceous or baccate, or dry and indehis- 

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

 men. Cotyledons convolute or variously Iblded. 



1. LAGUNCULARIA, Gart. 



Flowers in spikes. Calyx-tube obconical, the limb 5-parted, ol)tuse, ])ersist- 

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

 l-celled, 2-ovuled. Drupe coriaceous, cuneate-obovatc, compressed, angled, 

 1-secdcd. Seeds genninating in the drupe. Cotyledons convolute. Kadidc 

 clong-itcd. — Maritime slu-ubs, with opposite elliptical smooth and fleshy leaves, 

 on biglandular petioles, and small flowers, in simple or compcjund axillary and 

 tcnninal spikes. 



1. L. raeemosa, G«rt. Spikes erect, rigid, hoary -tomcntosc, tlie lateral 

 ones solitary, the terminal ones in threes, simple or branched ; flowers scattered ; 

 calyx-tube obconical, furrowed, wing-angled in fruit. — Soutli Florida. June 

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



2. L. glabrifloi'a, Presl. Spikes spreading, slender, smooth, the lateral 

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

 deciduous ; calyx-tube cup-shaped, terete, even, with two opposite bractlcts ap- 

 pressed to sides. — Banks of the Manitec Kiver, South Florida, Rugel. June. — 

 Perhaps a sterile form of the preceding. 



2. CONOCARPUS, Ga-rt. 



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

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

 mens 5-10, exserted. Anthers cordate. Fruit coriaceous, scale-like, closely 

 imbricated and indehiscent. Cotyledons convolute. — Trees or shrubs, with 

 alternate entire and somewhat fleshy leaves. Heads of flowers spiked or panicled. 



1. C. erecta, Jacq. Branchlets angular, smooth; leaves smooth, oblong 

 or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed into a biglandular petiole ; heads of 

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

 SERiCEA, DC. Branches, leaves, and panicles silky and hoary ; lowest leaves 

 mostly obovatc and obtuse or emarginate ; ovary abortive. — Sandy sea-shore, 

 Tampa Bay, Florida, and southward. January and February. — A shrub or 

 small tree. Leaves 2' - 4' long. Heads of fruit 3" -6" long. Flowers greenish, 

 minute. 



