64. RAFFLESIACEAE — 65. HYDXORACEAE — 66. POLYGOXACEAE I77 



FAMILY 64. RAFFLESIACEAE 



Parasitic herbs, partly immersed in the tissue of the plants upon which they 

 grow. Leaves reduced to scales. Flowers terminal, solitary o ' in rac mes, 

 regular, unisexual. Pcrianth-s .gments 4 or more. Stamens 8 or more ; fila- 

 ments united into a column. Ovary inferior, i-celled with 4 or more parietal 

 placentas, or several-celled with axile placentas. Ovules numerous. Style 

 simple ; stigmas situated beneath its thickened apex. Fruit a berry. Seeds 

 minute, with a hard testa, oily albumen, and undivided embryo. — Genera 2, 

 Species 4. (CYTINACEAE.) 



Ovary i-celled, with usually 4 shghtly projecting parietal placentas. 

 Ovules inverted. Anthers affixed beneath the thickened apex of the 

 staminal column, opening by transverse slits. Perianth-segments free. 

 Flowers solitary. — Species i. Southern "West Africa (Angola). (Under 

 Apodanthes Poiteau). [Tribe APODANTHEAE.] Pilostyles Guill. 



Ovary more or less completely 6- or more-celled ; placentas parietal, but 

 much projecting, sometimes uniting in the middle. Ovules straight. 

 Anthers laterally affixed to the thickened apex of the staminal column, 

 opening by longitudinal shts. Perianth-segments united below. Flowers 

 in spikes, racemes, or panicles. — Species 3. North and South Africa and 

 Madagascar. They have edible fruits and are used medicinally. [Tribe 

 CYTINEAE.l Cytinus L. 



FAMILY 65. HYDNORACEAE 



Fleshy, herbaceous, leafless root-parasites with a creeping root-stock Flowers 

 solitary, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth simple, fleshy; tubular, with 3 — 4 

 (very rarely 5) valvate segments. Stamens as many as and alternate with the 

 perianth-segments, inserted in the tube ; filaments united ; anther-cells 

 numerous, linear, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, i-celled, 

 with many placentas hanging down from the top of the cell. Stigma sessile. 

 Fruit succulent. Seeds with a hard testa, copious albumen, and undivided 

 embryo. (Under CYTINACEAE). 



Genus i, species 8. Tropical and South Africa. Some are edible or 

 used for tanning Hydnora Thunb. 



ORDER POLYGONALES 



FAMILY 66. POLYGONACEAE 



Leaves alternate, undivided or pinnately cleft, provided at the base with a 

 stem-clasping sheath. Flowers regular. Perianth-segments 3 — 6. Stamens 

 4^50. Ovary superior, I-celled. Ovule i. St5des 2 — 4, free or united at the 

 base. Fruit a nut. Seed with an abundant, mealy albumen and a usually 

 lateral embryo. — Genera 9, species 120. (Plate 39.) 



