Ehijpsalis.] lxvi. cactace^ (oliver). 581 



1. RHIPSALIS, Gsert.j Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 850. 



Calyx-teeth very short, 3-oo . Petals 6-10, spreading- oblong-. Sta- 

 mens 20 more or less. Ovary g-labrous. Seeds exalbuminous. — Fleshy 

 shrubs with elongate terete (ang-ular or flattened) branches. Leaves 

 squamiform. Flowers small, lateral, sessile. 



The following species belongs to the section Eurhipsalis, characterized by small 

 lateral whitish flowers, with glabrous ovary and pellucid pisiform berry. 



1. R. Cassytha, Gart. ; DC. Prod. iii. 476. Pendent shrub, reach- 

 ing- 4 -9 ft. or more, from rocks and moss-grown trees ; branches 

 cylindrical, smooth, glaucescent, articulated at the insertion (either 

 dichotomous or) approximately verticillate, occasionally rooting ; in 

 young plants, thinly clothed at first with deciduous tufted setae. Flowers 

 svhitish, sessile, lateral, often numerous or crowded along the branches, 

 ^-\ in. diameter. Calyx-limb minute, unequally lobed. Petals 6-7 , 

 spreading. Stamens about 20. Stigma 4-partite with oblong obtuse 

 fleshy somewhat spreading lobes. Berries pale yellowish- white ; pulp 

 viscous; seeds black shining. — Bot. Mag. 3080. 



Upper Guinea. Prince's Island (very fragmentary), Barter! 



Lower Guinea. Pungo Andongo and Golungo Alto, Dr. Welwitsch! 



Mozamb. Distr. Moramballa (Zambesia, 3000-3500 ft.), Dr. Kirk! Waller! 



Var.? tenuior. Branches very slender, simply repeatedly dichotomous, ovary (after 

 flowering) cylindrical-oblong. Fernando Po, Mann! This form I think probably speci- 

 fically distinct, but our material is small. 



The above description is mainly from Dr. Welwitsch's full notes and excellent An*- 

 golan specimens. 



Also in Ceylon, Mauritius, and Tropical America. 



Order LXVII. FICOIDEJE. (By Prof. Oliver.) 



Flowers regular, usually hermaphrodite. Calyx polysepalous, sepals 

 4-5, imbricate, or gamosepalous 4-5-lobed, free or adnate more or less 

 to the ovary ; persistent. Petals or minute and membranous or (in 

 Mesembryanthemum) indefinite coloured. Stamens perigynous or in 

 polysepalous genera hypogynous, definite or indefinite ; filaments free 

 or variously connate at base; anthers 2-celled, oblong elliptical or 

 subdidymous, dehiscing longitudinally. Disk or annulate. Ovary 

 free (except in Mesembryanthemum), l-2-oo -carpellary, syncarpous (ex- 

 cept in GiseUa) ; styles or stigmas as many as cells of ovary ; ovules 

 solitary few or oo . Fruit various ; seed albuminous, albumen usually 

 farinaceous; embryo curved or peripherical. — Herbs or low shrubs. 

 Leaves opposite alternate or pseudo-verticillate, simple, often fleshy ; 

 stipules or scarious. Flowers solitary or (usually) cymose. 



A considerable Order of tropical and subtropical countries. 



Ovary inferior. 



Petals oo. Capsule loculicidal 1. Mesembryanthemum. 



Petals 0. Fruit indehiscent, a nut or drupaceous ... 2. Tetbagonia. 



