Victorian Plants. 35 



STERCULIACEAE. 



164. Calyx supported by three bracts ... ... 165 



Calyx unsupported by bracts ... ...166 



165. Stipules conspicuous. 



Shrubs ; calyx persistent, often membranous ; petals very 

 minute or absent ; stamens five ; fruit three- to five- 

 valved, smooth. Thoniasia. 752 



Stipules none. 



Shrubs ; calyx persistent, often firm ; petals very minute . 

 or absent ; stamens five ; fruit three-valved, smooth. 

 Figure 20. Lasiopetalum. 753 



166. Fruit five-valved. 



Shrubs or small trees ; calyx persistent ; petals dilated and 

 inflexed at the base, narrowed at the summit ; fertile 

 stamens five ; fruit beset with bristle- or thorn-like 

 excrescences. Commerconia. 758 



Fruit consisting of distinct fruitlets. 



Usually trees, sometimes tall ; calyx corollaceous, de- 

 ciduous ; petals absent ; stamens numerous, connate. 

 Figure 21. Brachychiton. 759 



EUPKORBIACEAE. 



167. Flowers devoid of sepals and petals, contained 



within a calyx-like involucre. 



Herbs, far less commonly shrubs, always with abundant 

 white acrid sap ; calyx-like involucre small, with glands 

 at its margin ; staminate flowers several, one stamen to 

 each; pistillate flowers solitary, central; fruit six- 

 valved. "Spurge." Euphorbia. 760 



Flowers provided with sepals, but devoid of any 

 involucre ... ... ... ... ... ... 168 



168. Fruit-valves usually two or three ... ... ... 169 



Fruit-valves usually six ... ... ... ... 170 



