120 



DESVAUXIACE.E. 



[Endogens. 



Order XXXI. DESVAUXIACE^.— Bristleworts. 



Desvauxiese, Nixus Plantarum, p. 23. (1833), a § o/Restiaces ; Bartl. Ord. Nat. p. 36 ; Martius Con- 

 spectus, No. 38.— Centrolepideae, Desvaux in Ann. des Sc. 13. 36. (1828) ; Endl. Gen. xliv • 3l€is- 

 ner, Gen. p. 409 ; Eunth. Enum. 3. 487. 



Diagnosis. — Ghimal Endogens, with several ovaries {sometimes consolidated)^ a Xiendidons 

 ovule, l-2-stamens, 1-celled anthers, and terminal enibryo. 



Little tufted herbs, resembling small Scirpi. Leaves setaceous, sheatliing at the base. 

 Scapes fihform, undivided, naked. Flowers enclosed ui a terminal spathe. Glumes one, 



in front, or two somewhat op- 

 posite each other. Paleae 0, or 

 one or two tender scales parallel 

 with the ghmies. Stamen 1, very 

 rarely 2 ; anther simple. Ova- 

 ries from 1 to 1 8 attached to a 

 common axis, distinct or 

 partially united, 1-celled, \\-ith 

 a smgle stigma to each ; ovules 

 solitary, orthotropal. Fruit as 

 many 1 -seeded utricles, opening 

 longitudinally ; seed pendvQous ; 

 embryo lenticular, placed withm 

 the extremity most remote from 

 the hilum. 



The main distinction of this 

 Order consists in the ovaries, 

 which are variable in mmiber, 

 and usually distinct from each 

 other round a common axis, m 

 the manner of a Ranunculus. 

 Occasionally they are partially 

 united ; in all cases they change 

 to little one-seeded utricles. 

 The stamen, wliich is usually 

 sohtary, has a second added m 

 the genus Gaimardia, which 

 does not seem to be otherwise 

 different, Apheha has only one 

 carpel, and tliis is regarded by 

 Eudhcher as a near approach 

 to Sedges ; but it is really 

 very different, for the smgle 

 ovary of that order is evidently 

 made up of from 2 to 3 carpels 

 enclosmg a single o%aile ; wliile 

 in Aphelia, as m all the Order 

 of Bristle worts, the ovai'y con- 

 sists of but a smgle carpel. 



All inliabit the South Sea 

 Islands ; and nearly all New 

 Holland. 

 They are of no known use. 



Fig. LXXX. 



Aphelia, R. Br. 

 AlepjTum, R. Br. 



GENERA. 



Centrolepis, Labill. 

 Desvauxia, R, Br. 



Gaimardia, Gaudich. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 15. (Kunth.) 



Position. Restiaceae. — DESVAUxiACEiE. — Eriocaulacese, 



Fig, LXXX. — Centrolepis fascicularis. 1. A 

 ovary with the style cut off.—E)idlicfier. 



of flowers ; 2. a single flower separated ; 3. an 



