101. GESNERACE^. [2. Didtmocarpus. 



sometimes half -inferior (in American genera), 1-celled or more rarely 

 2-celled ; style linear, stigma small capitate or 2-lobed ; placentae 

 parietal 2-fid. Ovnles very many, anatropons. Frvxit capsular or 

 baccate, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds very many, minute, fusi- 

 form or ovoid. Albumen or scanty, embryo straight. 



There is no hard and fast line between this family and the Scropulariaceae-, the 

 habit is often very characteristic in the large leaves and short or obsolete stem, as 

 also is the frequently 1-celled ovary and '2-fid placentas. Our species all belong to 

 the tribe Didj^mocarpeas in which the fruit is an elongate loculicidally 2-valved or 

 finally 4-valved capsule, placenta? deeply intruded and seeds without hairs. 



The well-known garden and greenhouse plants Achimenes, Gloxinia, Gesnera and 

 Sfreptocurpns are typical of the family. 



I. Capsule ellipsoid membranous, placentae 2-fid bearing 

 ovules on all sides : — 

 Caulescent with unequal-sided leaves. St. 2 perfect . . \. Rhynchoglossvm. 

 II. Capsule linear. Placentae not ovuliferous on their inner 

 sides : — 



Stamens 2 perfect 2. Bidymocarpus. 



Stamens 4 perfect 3. Didissandra. 



1. RHYNCHOGLOSSUM, Blume. 



Herbs with usually a leafy stem, rarely leaf only one in starved 

 forms. Leaves alternate, unequal-sided, pinnate-nerved. Flowers 

 in ebracteate racemes with minute bracteoles. Calyx campanulate, 

 somewhat zygomorphous. Corolla with tube contracted at the mouth, 

 2-lipped, upper lip short 2-fid, lower longer 3-lobed. Stamens 2 

 perfect, included; anthers connivent 2-celled, slits ultimately con- 

 fluent at the apex. Ovary ovoid ; placentse deeply intruded and 

 2-fid, the lamellae bearing ovules on all sides. Capsule included 

 ellipsoid, membranous, locvilicidally 2-valved. Seeds narrowly 

 ellipsoid with minutely reticulated testa. 



1. R. obliquum, Blume. Var. parviflorum, Clarice. 



A rather succulent herb varying from 3-4" high with a single leaf 

 to 18" high with many leaves in the same locality. Leaves mem- 

 branous l-4!*5" elliptic or ovate acuminate, with a semi-cordate base 

 and many rather strong obliqtie nerves, nearly glabrous, petiole 

 variable. Flowers blue secund in elongate many-fid. racemes, rhachis 

 minutely densely pubescent up to 6" long in Avell- grown plants, 

 bracteoles small linear. 



Wet shady banks. Parasnath, Hazaribagh, chiefl.y above 4000 ft. ! Fl., Fr. 

 Oct.-Nov. 



Pedicels -O-d-'IS" long, curved. Calyx with 2-lobed upper lip and more deeply 

 3-lobed lower lip. Corolla twice as long, '3", upper lip blue somewhat reflexed 

 2-lobed, lower sub-entii-e, throat yellow closed. Capsule membranous easily 

 dehiscent almost enclosed b.y the angular nearly glabrous calyx. 



2. BIDYMOCARPUS, Wall. 

 Herbs, sometimes stemless, with opposite, alternate, 3-4-nate or 

 crowded or sometimes solitary leaves. Flowers large or very small 

 (in ovir species), cymose, sub-umbelled or sub-racemose in pairs, on 

 axillary peduncles or pedicels few short and fascicled. Calyx small 

 5-fid or -partite. Corolla with cylindric or ovoid tube with oblique 

 or sub-symmetric mouth, limb with 5 rounded lobes often 2-lipped. 



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