Gyrocarpus.'] ex via. hernandiace^ (sprague). 189 



Order CXVIa. HERNANDIACE^. (By T. A. Sprague.) 



Flowers hermaphrodite or by abortion monoecious or polygamous, 

 regular. Perianth superior; segments free or shortly united below, 

 in two valvate 3-5-merous whorls, or more rarely in one imbricate 

 4-8-merous whorl. Stamens 3-5 in a single whorl, opposite the outer 

 perianth-segments when the perianth is double, or generally 4 (2-7) 

 when the perianth is single ; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing introrsely or 

 laterally by 2 valves. Staminodes more or less glandular, in 1 or 

 2 whorls usually outside the stamens, or absent ; those of the outer 

 whorl in pairs at the base of the stamens, those of the inner whorl 

 alternate with the stamens. Ovary inferior, 1-celled; ovule solitary, 

 pendulous, anatropous. Fruit dry, often longitudinally ribbed, some- 

 times with 2-4 longitudinal wings {Illigera), or with 2 terminal wings 

 formed by accrescent perianth-segments {Gyrocarpus), or wingless and 

 enclosed in an inflated cupule {Heiiiandia). Seed solitary, exalbuminous. 

 Embryo straight ; cotyledons large, plano-convex, more or less lobed, 

 or flattened and spirally twisted. — Unarmed trees or shrubs, sometimes 

 scandent. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, simple or digitate, 3-7-nerved 

 at or a little above the base. Cymes axillary, peduncled, corymbose or 

 panicled, bracteate or ebracteate. Flowers usually small, greenish - 

 yellow, cream-coloured or white. 



Genera 4, tropical ; species about 35. 



The genera Qyrocarfus and Illigera, together with the Tropical American 

 Sparattanthelium, were i'eo;arded by Benthain and Hooker as a sub-order of 

 Comhretacece ; it has been considered better, however, to follow Pax (in Engl. & 

 Prantl, Fjlanzenfam. iii. 2, 129) in regarding them and Hernandia as forming a 

 distinct order allied to Laurinece. 



Cymes ebracteate ; perianth ^-1 lin. long ; fruit with two 



terminal wings 1. GYROCARPUS. 



Cymes bracteate; perianth 2-4 lin. long; fruit without 

 terminal wings. 

 Leaves simple ; flowers monoecious ; fruit not winged, 



surrounded by an inflated cupule . . . .2. Hernandia. 



Leaves digitate ; flowers hermaphrodite ; fruit with 



2-4 lateral wings ....... 3. Illigera. 



1. GYROCARPUS, Jacq. ; Benth. et Hook. f. 

 Gen. PI. i. G89. 



Flowers polygamous, mostly male. Perianth 4-8-partite ; lobes in 

 a single whorl, imbricate, equal or unequal, 2 larger than the rest and 

 accrescent in hermaphrodite flowers. Stamens much exserted, usually 

 4 (2-7), inserted at the base of the perianth ; anthers dehiscing laterally, 

 valves opening upwards. Staminodes more or less clavate, as many as 

 and alternate with the stamens, or more numerous. Style straight ; 

 stigma obliquely expanded. Fruit with 2 terminal wings formed by 



