264 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



As the separate perianth leaves do not afford a safe 

 landing-place, the stamens have undertaken to provide 

 one. This is a common feature in many flowers of 

 Dicotyledonous plants, as in certain species of Pclar- 

 go'muin, in Plectran' tlius (Lihiatcc), described above 

 (p. 213), etc. 



The interpretation is that the flower had originally 

 erect, spreading stamens ; but as insects always came 

 from one side and depressed them in visiting the flower 

 for honey, they finally and permanently assumed this 

 dependent or declinate position. 



The second tribe is called JTypoxidccc, and has three 

 genera in South Africa, of which two have only one 

 species each, but Hyi?ojHs has many. The flowers are 

 not in umbels as are those of Ariiai^yllidcije. The seeds 

 have a hard black coat. 



Hypox'is. — Fig. 103, I. illustrates the characteristic 

 appearance of the flower. (II.) is a vertical section of 

 a flbwer-bud, showing the elongated inferior ovary and 

 the hairy perianth. The diagram (III.) shows the flower 

 to be perfectly regular and threc-mcroics, i.e. whorls in 

 threes. 



General Description of the Belladonna Family. 



Herhs — Bulbous, or fibrous rooted. 



Leaves — Ensif orm . 



Flowers — Perianth superior, regular or irregular, 



