242 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



Ovary superior, of i, 2, or 5 carpels. Fruit a capsule, or 

 indehiscent. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs with alternate exstipulate leaves. 

 The order is closely related to Malvaceae, from which it may 

 be known by the 2-celled anthers. Theobroma, from which 

 chocolate is derived, belongs to this order. 

 A. Flowers imperfect — 



Sterculia. — Calyx coloured. Petals none. Carpels 



separate or partly united. A 

 tree is found about Uitenhage, 

 the only species. 



AA. Flowers perfect, sta- 

 minodia alternating with the 

 - stamens — 



Fig. 243. — Hermann'^ althcefolia : a, 

 stamens. (After "Botanical Magazine.") 



Fig. 244. — Maherina : a, stamens. 



Dombeya. — A 3-leaved, i-sided, deciduous involucre 

 subtends the flowers. Calyx bending back as the flowers 

 open. Petals twisted, unequal-sided. Stamens 10-15, alter- 

 nating in parcels of 2-3 with 5 slender staminodia. Small 

 Eastern trees with an abundance of white or rosy flowers. The 

 petals become papery and enlarged, remaining on. 



AAA. Flowers perfect, no staminodia — 



Hermannia is a very common, more or less prostrate, 



