226 ARALIACEZS. [Stilbocarpa. 
in simple or compound umbels, less often in racemes or panicles. 
Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary ; limb truncate or toothed or almost 
obsolete. Petals usually 5, seldom 4 or more than 5, valvate or 
slightly imbricate. Stamens as many as the petals, and inserted 
with them round the margin of an epigynous disc; filaments usually 
inflexed. Ovary superior, 2- to many-celled, rarely 1-celled ; styles 
as many as the cells, free or connate; ovules solitary, pendulous, 
anatropous. Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent; epicarp usually succu- 
lent; cells 2 to many, l-seeded. Seeds pendulous; testa membran- 
ous; albumen copious, fleshy; embryo minute, radicle next the 
hilum. 
An order very closely allied to Umbellifere, principally differing in the 
arborescent habit, valvate petals, ovary usually more than 2-celled, and succu- 
lent fruit. The species are mainly tropical or subtropical, few of them extend- 
ing into the temperate zones. Genera 40; species about 350. The properties 
of the order are unimportant. Of the 6 genera found in New Zealand, 
Stilbocarpa and Pseudopanax are endemic; Aralia mainly belongs to the 
north temperate zone, Meryta and Schefflera are chiefly Polynesian, while 
Panaz has a wide range in the Old World. 
*The New Zealand species herbaceous, with broad orbicular-reniform 
leaves. Petals imbricate. 
Fruit globose, cup-shaped or hollowed at the eu .. 1. STILBOCARPA. 
Fruit globose, not hollowed at the top . -. 2. ARALTIA. 
** Shrubs or trees. Petals valvate. Stamens equal in number to the 
petals. 
Leaves simple or digitate. Ovary 2-celled, ni al 4-celled. 
Styles distinct, recurved at the apex .. - 
Leaves simple, very large. Flowers paniculate .. 
Leaves digitate. Umbels small, racemed on the branches 
of a large spreading panicle .. 5. SCHEFFLERA. 
Leaves simple or digitately divided. Ovary usually 
5-celled. Styles very short, connate into a cone or 
column .. tc =e s- 5. .. 6, PSEUDOPANAX. 
. PANAX. 
. MerytTa. 
He CO 
1. STILBOCARPA, A. Gray. 
A stout much-branched herb; stem fistulose. Leaves large, 
orbicular or reniform, setose; petiole with broad membranous 
stipuliform sheaths. Umbels 3 or 4 times compound, forming a 
large globose head 6—-9in. diam.; involucral bracts foliaceous. 
Flowers polygamous, jointed on the top of the pedicel. Calyx-tube 
3-4-grooved ; limb obsolete. Petals 5, obovate, obtuse, imbricate 
in the bud. Stamens 5; anthers ovate. Disc fleshy, annular, 
3-4-lobed. Ovary 3—4-celled ; styles as many as the cells, recurved. 
Fruit globose, depressed and hollow at the summit, obscurely 
3-4-grooved, dry and corky, covered with a black and shining 
epidermis, 3-4-celled. Seeds as many as the cells. 
A monotypic genus, confined to the islands immediately to ind south of 
New Zealand. It is chiefly separated from Aralia by the hollow axis of the 
fruit, which gives the summit a peculiar cup-shaped appearance. 
