81 



Apparently a variable plant. Dr. "Masters (in Oliver's Flora of 

 Trop. Africa, i. 226), describes the African specimens as having no 

 stamens or staminodes alternating with the 5 phalanges of stamens. A 

 specimen in the Calcutta Hei'barium from Jav^a has the under surface 

 of the leaves softly hairy. 



5. Helicteres, Linn. 



Trees or shrubs, more or less stellate-pubescent. Leaves simple, 

 Floivers axillary, solitary or fascicled. Gahjx tubular, 5-fid, often irre- 

 gular. Petals 5, clawed, equal or unequal, the claws often with ear- 

 shaped appendages. Staminal column surrounding the gynophore, 5- 

 toothed or lobed at the apex ; anthers at the top of the column, 2-celled, 

 Five staminodes below the apex of the column. Ovary at the top of the 

 column, 5-lobed, 5-celled ; styles awl-shaped, moi^e or less united, slight- 

 ly thickened and stigmatose at the tips ; ovules many in each cell. 

 Follicles spirally twisted, or straight. Seeds tubercled ; albumen scanty ; 

 cotyledons leafy, folded round tlie radicle which is next the hilum. — 

 Distrib. About 30 species, natives of the tropics of both hemispheres. 

 Fruit spirally twisted ... ... 1. M. Isora. 



Fruit not twisted. 



Leaves ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 



oblique ; fruit more than 1 in. long ... 2. H. hirsuta. 

 Leaves lanceolate or oblanceolate, not 



oblique: fruit less than 1 in. long ... 3. H. angustifoUa. 



1. H. Isora, Linn. Spec. 1366. A shrub or small tree; young 

 branches minutely tomentose. Leaves ovate-rotund, oblique ; the apex 

 rounded, abruptly acuminate ; the edges irregularly serrate-dentate, some- 

 times lobed ; the base cordate or rounded, rarely acute, palmately 5- 

 to 7-nerved ; upper surface scabrous, minutely hispid ; lower pubescent 

 or tomentose ; length 2 to 4 in., breadth 1'25 to 3 in. ; petiole "3 in. long, 

 tomentose ; stipules linear, about as long as the petioles. Floivers 

 axillaiy, solitary, or in few-flowered minutely bracteolate cymes, 15 in. 

 long. Calyx narrowly campanulate, laterally compressed, 2-lipped, 5- 

 toothed, tomentose outside. Petals reflexed, the lower two much short- 

 er and broader than the three upper. Staminal coluinn longer than the 

 petals, curved, very nai'rowly cylindric, bearing at its apex 10 to 12 

 elongate-ovate stamens, and more internally 5 flat bifid staminodes. 

 Ovary ovoid, sulcate, tomentose : styles slender, glabrous, united. 

 Frtiit cylindric, twisted, ci'owned by the persistent styles, pubescent ; 

 1'5 in. long, -4 in. in diam. Mast, iu Hook. fil. Fl. Ind. i. 365 ; BI 



lyo 



