134 LXII. FICOIDER. 
Leaves whorled, obovate, lanceolate or linear, with obsolete stipules. 
Flowers small, sessile or pedicellate, in sessile, axillary umbels.—7 species, 
dispersed. 
13. POLPODA, Presl. 
Calyx petaloid, 4-parted; sepals (snow-white) fringed and 
lacerate, imbricated at base with 3-4 hard-margined, basally- 
fimbriate bracts. Petals 0. Stamens 4, hypogynous, alter- 
nate with the sepals ; filaments exserted ; anther-cells lnear, 
divaricate at base. Style 2-parted; branches filiform, erect, 
stigmatose. Capsules broadly obcordate, 2-celled, compressed 
laterally, loculicidally 2-valved ; valves septiferous. Seed so- 
litary, globose-reniform, granulated, black, opaque.—#1. Cap. 
1. p. 149. 
P. Capensis, the only species, is a diffusely-branched undershrub, the 
branches everywhere densely imbricated with minute, linear, hard-margined, 
channelled leaves, on each side at base bordered with membranous, fringed, 
stipulary lamine. Flowers minute, axillary, sessile, forming long, cylin- 
drical, terminal spikes.—Common on hills round Capetown and Kamp’s 
Bay. 
14, GIESEKIA, Linn. 
Calyx 5-parted ; sepals often coloured, with ‘membranous 
edges. Petals0. Stamens 5-15, hypogynous, separate, alterna- 
ting singly or in parcels of 2 or 3 with the sepals; filaments 
broad-based, subulate. Carpels 5 (sometimes 3-4), sessile on a 
small torus, separate ; ovules solitary, erect ; styles 3-5, con- 
tinuous with the inner angle of the carpel. Fruit lodged 
in the persistent calyx, of 8-5 1-seeded, warted or crested, dry 
nuts; embryo peripheric.— Fl. Cap. 1. p. 155. 
Small annuals or perennials, growing in sandy soil. Stems slender, 
spreading, forked. Leaves opposite or alternate, entire, fleshy, generally 
paler beneath, and dotted with hard, immersed points. Flowers minute, 
greenish, in simple or compound cymes.—2 Cape species, dispersed. 
15. SEMONVILLEA, Gay. 
Calyx 5-parted; sepals separate, herbaceous, with mem- 
branous edges. Petals 5 or 0, clawed. Stamens 5-7, hypo- 
gynous, the broad-based filaments slightly connate at base. 
Ovary compressed, of 2 plano-convex carpels, united by their 
flat sides ; styles 2, filiform; stigmas subcapitate. Fruit orbi- 
cular, dry, formed of 2 separable, 1-seeded, indehiscent, plano- 
convex carpels, winged round the margin.—F7. Cap. i. p. 152. 
Slender, branching, glabrous annuals, found in North and South Africa. 
—S. fenestrata, Fenzl, the Cape species, grows on the Northern frontier. 
It is 12-18 inches high, much-branched, with very long narrow-linear 
leaves, and minute cymose flowers. 
