315 



g^roup there are tliree bracts in tlie young, or traces of three in 

 the mature receptacles. A mucli better distinguishing feature for 

 the whole of this subgenus is to be found in the arrangement of 

 the bracts of the ostiole of the receptacle. In the other subgenera 

 these bracts spread horizontally across the mouth of ihe%tiole, 

 and several are visible from the outside (see diagram figs. C and 



^ ' " "' ' ' however, the ostiole has quite a 



ncteata 



D). In the 



different appearance. Prom the outside it appears a^ a pore-like 

 sht, much resembling the stoma of a leaf, with none of the 

 bracts visible externally, but all of them abruptly reflexed and 

 descending vertically into the receptacle (diagram figs. A and B). 



The other jubgenera are distinguished from one another chiefly 



by the number of stamens in the 

 male flowers. This, though ap- 

 parently a trifling character in it- 



gives a 



self, 



of the species 

 dmjn is, however, 

 terised, and 



very natural grouping 

 . The ■ 



subgenus 



further charac- 

 differs from the other 

 three in having the bracts, which 

 are usually in a whorl at the base of 

 the receptacle, scattered indiscrimi- 

 nately on the peduncle and fre- 

 quently over the outer surface of the 



receptacle (fi 





E). 



rhe following is a key to the subgenera : 



Eeceptaculi ostiolum conspicue bracteatum, 

 bracteis per orificem transverse radianti- 

 bus : — 



Bracteae basales receptaculi Terticillatae, 

 solum ad apicem pediniculi dispositae : 



Flores mnpcuh staminibus 3-6 ; folia dentata 

 vel lobatn, scabrida 



Flores masculi j)]erumqiie ?:tamiiubus 2 ; 

 foUa saepe dentata, scabrida vel hirsuia 



riores masculi stamuie uuico; folia semper 

 Integra et fere semper laevia, rarius 

 pubescentfa vel .sul>scabrida 



Bracteae basales in pedunculis et receptaculis 



I. Caiuca. 



II. Sycomokus. 



IV. UJiOSTIGMA, 



spiraliter dispositae, interdnm minimae... IIL Sycidium. 



Eeceptaculi ostiolum porifornie, plus miimsve 

 bilabiutnm, bracteis omnibus in receptaculi 

 interiora abrupte reflexis ab extra noa visis 



y. BiBKACTKATAE. 



Mildb 



aud Burret divided the Bihracteatae into seven 



sections as follows, their characters being more or less indicated 



th 



culatae; 



eir names 



1. 



vn. 



IV. 



CJi la m 



Elet/antes; 



Platyphylhe; -ii. Caulocarpae; iii. Fasci- 



V. 



Crassicostae; vi. CyatJiistipvlae; 



Jo do 



yaoc 



rae. 



Ou account of tlie atldition of a 



great 



number of new species to this group, many of tlie differences 

 wliicli served to Separate these sections have disai^pearecl. lu the 



A 2 



