142 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



Bru'nia. — This genus has ten species. Outside the 

 flower there are three little bracts (Fig. 60, II.). The 

 calyx has five sepals, the corolla five petals (II.) with 

 five stamens (III., IV.), all standing on the rim of a 

 receptacular tube, which is only half adherent to the 

 ovary (III.). This is, therefore, said to be " half- 

 inferior," and the calyx " half- superior." The petals 

 and stamens are accordingly " half-epigynous." (V.) 

 is a vertical section of calyx and pistil. (VI.) is the 

 seed cut vertically to show the embryo at one end of a 

 mass of endosperm. Though there may be four ovules, 

 BrnJnia has only one seed. 



Staa'via. — This genus has six species; the fruit is 

 dehiscent, and not indehiscent, as in Bnt'nia. Some 

 species have a scarious or dry involucre at the base 

 of the flowers, so that the "head" might be readily 

 mistaken for a composite. 



General Description of the Brnnia. Family. 



Shrubs — Small. 



Leaves — Heath-like, sessile. 



Flovjers—Qdlyx, half or quite superior, of 5 sepals; 

 petals and stamens, 5, upon the receptacular tube; 

 ovary, 1 to 3-celled. 



