502 LXir. TURNERACE2E (masters). [Wormskioldia. 



pod-like, bursting loculicidally by three valves, bearing the placentas 

 in the centre. Seeds numerous, ascending*, cylindrical, funiculate; 

 arillus membranous, 1-sided; testa crustaceous, striated, pitted. Em- 

 bryo straight in the axis of fleshy albumen. — Glabrous or hispid 

 herbs with much the aspect of some Cruciferce. Leaves alternate, sessile 

 or stalked, entire or lobed. Stipules none. Flowers yellow or orange, 

 bracteate in racemose cymes. — Streptopetalum y Hochst. in Flora, 1841, 

 ii. 665. 



A small genus, exclusively African, which has been been placed in various Orders by 

 different authors, being allied to Frankeniacece, Droseracece, Cruciferce, Capparidece, 

 &c. By Bentham and Hooker it is referred to the small order Turneracece. 



Pod short, about half an inch long 1. W. serrata. 



Pod exceeding half an inch in length. 



Common flower-stalk very long and glabrous 2. W. longepedunculata. 



Common flower-stalk not greatly exceeding the adjacent 

 leaf in length. 

 Leaves polymorphous. Petals narrow, linear-spathulate, 



with very long claws ■ . . . . 3. W. heterophylla. 



Leaves uniform or nearly so. Petals broad at the apex, 



obcuneate 4. W. glandulifera. 



1. W. serrata, Hochstetter in Flora, xxiv. 1841 • ii. 666. A branching 

 herb, less than a foot in height, more or less covered with white spread- 

 ing hairs. Leaves membranous, 2-3 in. long, subsessile, lanceolate, 

 serrate, serratures glandular, rarely pinnatifid. Flowers 3-4, disposed 

 in axillary 1 -sided racemose cymes. Common peduncle hispid, shorter 

 than the leaves, rarely bearing a solitary flower. Flower-tube very 

 slender, J-inch long, 4-5-toothed. Petals obovate, exceeding the sepals, 

 sulphur-coloured or brownish yellow. Pods J-in. long, oblong, acute, 

 scarcely beaked, 3-valved ; valves hispid. Seeds oblong*, curved, yel- 

 lowish, pitted. — W. abyssinica, Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 299 ; Streptopetalum 

 serratum, Hochst. Flora, 1841 ; ii. 666. 



Nile Land. Abyssinia, Schimper! 



Keadily distinguished by its comparatively short pods. 



2. W. longepedunculata, Mast. A branched herb, more or less 

 covered with spreading purplish bristly hairs. Leaves membranous, 

 nearly sessile, linear-lanceolate, tapering at the base, minutely serrate, 

 serratures apiculate. Flowering branches very long, axillary, cylin- 

 drical, sulcate, striate, glabrous, bearing near the apex 6-10 flowers 

 in a raceme-like cyme. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, exceeding the pedicels. 

 Calyx tubular, f in. long, covered with white setse • limb divided into 

 5 short pointed teeth. Petals much exceeding the sepals, roundish, 

 stalked, bright vermilion-coloured. Pods 3-4 in. long, beaked, 3- 

 valved, valves striated, glabrous. Seeds brownish, pitted. 



Mozamb. Distr. Manganya hills, Dr. Meller! 



The linear leaves and very long glabrous flowering branches give this species a diffe- 

 rent aspect from its allies. 



3. W. heterophylla, Schum. et Thxmn. PI. Ghtin. 165. A branched 

 herb about a foot high, covered with short white silky hairs, interspersed 



