GG4: C.VIX. CEllAXOPIIYLLACE.r, 



anthers la-ge, white (Clarice). Female floweiis : Perianth (oi- in- 

 vohicre) as in tlie male, often with an entire acute (not 2-fid) apex. 

 Ovary sessile, l-celled ; style subulate. Fruit very -variable. Fl. B. I. 

 V. 5, p. 639; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. JS'at. v. 12 (1899) p. 517; 

 Engler, in Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenf. v. 3, part 2, p. 11, fig. 12; Prain, 

 Beiig. PI. p. 990. Ceratopliyllum verticUIatum, Roxb. Hort. Beug. 

 (1814) p. G8, & Fl. Ind. v. 3 (1832) p. 624; Trim. Fl. Ceyl. v. 4, 

 p. 120. 



Sir Joseph Hooker (Fl. B. I. 1. c.) considers tbe Indian species of Chaiuisso and 

 Wallich to be referable to this, but at tlie same time is of opinion that an esaiuination 

 of Hving specimens is necessary for verification. Wight and Arnott (Prodr. pp. 3U'J 

 & 310) give 8 Indian species figured in Wight's ' Icones,' but suggest that these might 

 ))erliaps be regarded as forms of C. verticUIatum, Roxb., which Sir J. Hooker makes 

 synonymous with C. demermm. The following are the 3 species given by Wight 

 and Arnott : — 



C. tuberculatum, Cham, in Linnfea, v. 4 (1829) p. 504, t. 5, fig. 6 c?. Fruit ellipsoid, 

 sliglitly compressed, wingless; spines at first slender and weak, afterwards strong; 

 sides of the fruit convex, finely tuberculate. Wight & Arn. Prodr. p. 309 ; Wight, 

 Icon. t. 1948, fig. .3. 



C. imiricatum, Cham, in I/inna^a, v. 4 (1829) p. .504, t. 5, fig. 6 c. Pruit ellipsoid, 

 slightly compressed, winged ; spines slender, weak ; wing narrow, regularly many- 

 toothed ; sides of the fruit convex, more or less muricated, particularly towards the 

 apex. Wigiit & Arn. Prodr. p. 309; Wigiit, Icon. t. 1948. figs. 1, 2. C. platya- 

 caiithum, Cham. 1. c. fig. G a ; Engl, in Engl. & Prantl, Ptlauzenf. v. 3, part 2, 

 p. 12. 



C. wissioriis. Wall. Cat. (1828) n. 7007. Fruit elliiJsoid, slightly compressed, 

 winged ; spines elongate, the lateral ones flattened ; the wing broader downwards and 

 decurrent along the ba.se of the spines, with a few irregular teeth ; sides of the fruit 

 convex, finely tuberculate, Wight & Am. Prodr. p. 310; \\ight. Icon. t. 1948, 

 fig. 4. 



Order CXX. GNETACE^. 



Trees or shrubs ; branches jointed at the nodes. Leaves opposite, 

 large and green or minute and scale-like ; stipules 0. Flowers 1 -sexual, 

 monoecious or dioecious, in axillary or terminal spikes or cones. Male 

 flowers: Perianth vahately 2-lobed or spathaceous. Stamens connate 

 in a column of united filaments ; anthers 2-8, globose, 1-3-celled, sessile 

 or subsessile on the column. Female flowers : a naked erect ovule 

 with 2-3 coats, of which one is produced into a styliform tube with a 

 discoid mouth. Seed dry or drupe-like; albumen copious or scanty: 

 embryo straight ; cotyledons appressed ; radicle long, superior. — Distrib. 

 Genera 3 ; species about 40, in temperate and tropical regions. 



Shrubs leafless or nearly so 1. Ephedra. 



Trees or shrubs with large green leaves 2. Gnetum. 



1. EPHEDRA, Linn. 



Erect or subscandent rigid shrubs ; branches opposite or whorled, 

 terete, striate, Avith membranous sheaths at the nodes, which often bear 

 narrow leafy blades. {''lowers unisexual, usually dioecious. Male 

 FLOWERS in short bracteate spikelets which are whorled or in pairs. 

 Perianth of 2 o|)posite compressed membranous sepals. Anthers 2-8, 

 on a central column, 2-celled, opening by a short slit at the apex. 

 Fem.vle floweus usually in pairs, sometimes 3 or solitary, each Hower 

 consisting of 1 ovule with a single integument prolonged into a styliform 



