320 CII. PARONYCIIE®. 
style 1, terminal, seldom 2-3, 2-fid, rarely 3-fid, stigmatose on 
the inner face ; ovule 1 (rarely 2), erect or pendulous from a 
basal funicle. Fruita minute 1-seeded nut or utricle, enclosed 
in the calyx. Seed erect or inverted, with farinaceous aibu- 
men and a lateral or central, straight or curved embryo.— 
Herbs, sometimes shrubby at the base. Leaves usually oppo- 
site and quite entire, stipulate, in Scleranthus connate at base, 
serrulate and exstipulate. Flowers small, solitary or in cymes. 
Leaves opposite or alternate, stipulate. Style 1, simple 
or 2-3-fid. 
Perianth of 5 obtuse lobes. Petals 0. Leaves oppo- 
BibeIG si) Molyw a Nes hewe vite Perth leh eget Do Le eee 
Perianth urceolate, with 5 aristate lobes. Leaves sub- 
verticillate . . .°. 2 POLLICHIA. 
Perianth 5-parted. Petals 5. Leaves alternate . . 3. CORRIGIOLA. 
Leaves opposite, connate at the base, exstipulate. 
Styles 2. 
Calyx hardening . 4, SCLERANTHUS. 
1. HERNIARIA, Linn. 
Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Calyx 4-5-fid; seg- 
ments equal or unequal, obtuse. Petals as many, very minute, 
or 0. Stamens 3-5, perigynous. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled ; style 
short, 2-fid or 2-parted; ovule erect. Utricle membranous, 
enclosed in the calyx.— DC. Prod. iii. p. 3867. 
Diffuse herbs. Leaves opposite or alternate, often crowded. Stipules 
searious. Flowers: minute, green, axillary.—1 species, also European and 
Asiatic, diffused. 
2. POLLICHIA, Soland. 
Flowers surrounded at the base by at length somewhat 
fleshy bracts. Calyx urceolate, 5-6-lobed; lobes small, mu- 
cronate, at length fleshy ; mouth closed with a thickened 
lobed disk. Petals 0, or minute. Stamens 1-2, on the throat 
of the perianth. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, narrowed into a fili- 
form, twisted style, with 2-fid stigma; ovules 2, basilar. 
Utricle globose, included in the perianth-tube, 1-seeded.—DC. 
Prod. iii. p. 377. 
A diffuse herb. Leaves subwhorled, narrow. Stipules scarious. Flowers 
minute, axillary, crowded.—1 species, found in the Eastern districts ; ex- 
tends to Arabia. Fruit eaten by the Hottentots. 
3. CORRIGIOLA, Linn. 
Calyx herbaceous, deeply 5-fid; lobes obtuse. Petals 5, 
perigynous, as long as the calyx. Stamens 5, perigynous. 
Ovary 1-celled ; style very short; ovule 1, suspended from a 
basilar funicle. Nut crustaceous, ovoid, turgid, 3-angled, en- 
closed in the rugulose calyx.—DC. Prod. ui. p. 366. 
