Breccia.] xlix. saxifragace^: (oliver). 385 



ing upwards into the style, 5-celled, with indefinite ovules. " Fruit 

 drupaceous, woody, 1 -celled, many-seeded. Seeds with very thin 

 albumen." — Shrubs or small'trees, wholly glabrous. Leaves alternate, 

 coriaceous, entire or toothed. Flowers rather large, firm in texture, in 

 pedunculate axillary umbellate cymes. 



A small genus confined to the Mascarene islands and Mozambique coast. 



1. B. madagascariensis, Bot. Reg. t. 730. (Var. mossambiceiisis). 

 Shrub of 10-15 ft., wholly glabrous. Leaves coriaceous, shining, 

 obovate, occasionally retuse, obscurely notched or subentire, rounded 

 or broadly cuneate at base, 3-4|in. long, 2-2| in. broad; petiole Jin. 

 more or less. Peduncles axillary, the subtending leaf sometimes 

 minute, at length spreading or decurved, compressed, often bearing a 

 small coriaceous elliptical bract at the apex ; flowers 1, 2, or few on 

 pedicels of J- J in., 1 in. or more in diameter, greenish-white. Fruit 

 oblong-ellipsoidal acuminate, nearly 3 in. long, 1J in. diameter (from 

 drawing). — B. keterophylla, Noronh. ; Tulasne in Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. iv. 

 viii. 159 (which see for further synonymy). 



Mozamb. Distr. Amongst mangroves, Mouth of Zambesi, Dr. Kirk I 

 Also at Delagoa Kay and in Madagascar. The Delagoa plant agrees well with the 

 above, which differs from the usual Madagascar form in its broader leaves and few- 

 flowered peduncles. It is a very variable species, especially in the form of the leaves, 

 which are sometimes nearly 1 ft. long and not 1^ in. broad, with coarsely spinulose- 

 serrate leaves. 



Order L. CRASSULACEiE. (By Mr, James Britten.) 



Flowers hermaphrodite, regular. Calyx persistent, free, 4-5- rarely 

 6-partite, or 5- rarely 10-fid. Petals as many as the sepals, free or 

 more or less connate, often persistent, erect or spreading or with the 

 claw erect and the limb spreading. Stamens perigynous or scarcely 

 hypogynous, equalling or doubling the petals in number, free, or adnate 

 to the petals • filaments filiform or subulate ; anthers linear oblong 

 or didymous, dorsally affixed, dehiscing longitudinally. Scales hypo- 

 gynous at the base of the carpels, oblong* cuneate or linear, rarely 

 longer than broad. Carpels as many as the petals, free or rarely more 

 or less connate, unilocular ; styles short or elongated, subulate or fili- 

 form • stigmas capitellate, truncate, often oblique. Ovules many, rarely 

 solitary. Follicles membranaceous or coriaceous, many- or few-seeded, 

 dehiscing by the ventral suture. Seeds usually minute, oblong ; testa 

 membranaceous or subcoriaceous ; albumen fleshy. — Herbs or sutfru- 

 ticose, varying in habit, usually fleshy or succulent, rarely pubescent 

 or pilpse. Leaves alternate or opposite, sometimes connate, simple or 

 rarely laciniate or imparipinnate. Flowers usually cymose, with or 

 without bracts. 



An Order widely dispersed in temperate and subtropical regions, especially of the 

 Old World. 



