30 XXTT. MALTACEiE. 



10. PARITIUM, A. Juss. 



Involucel monophyllous, 10-12-tootlied or cleft. Petals and 

 staminal column as in Hibiscus. Ovary 5-celled, each cell 

 partially divided into two by a spurious parietal dissepiment ; 

 ovules numerous. Capsule 5-celled, the cells imperfectly 2- 

 locular. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 177. 



Tropical trees, mostly growing near the sea. Leaves cordate, entire or 

 lobed ; stipules broad, ovate. Flowers yellow, with, a dark centre. — P. 

 tiliaceum occurs at Natal, on the coast. 



Order XXIII. STERCULIACE^. 



Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual. Calyx mono- 

 phyllous, mostly persistent, 5- (rarely 3-4-7-) fid, valvate in 

 bud. Petals 5, free or attached to the staminal tube, twisted, 

 or 0. Stamens monadelphous, either merely united at base 

 into a ring, or combined in a longer or shorter tube ; sta- 

 minodia often alternating with stamens ; anthers 2-celled, 

 opening outwards. Ovary free, of 1-2-5 carpels, more or less 

 united ; style entire or splitting into as many branches as 

 there are carpels ; ovules 2 or many. Fruit dry, capsular or 

 rarely indehiscent. — A large and varied Order, known from 

 Malvacea by its 2-celled anthers. Leaves alternate, stipulate, 

 simple or digitate. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, race- 

 mose or cymoso-paniculate, or reduced to solitary flowers. 

 Petals very frequently persistent, withering. 



Tribe 1. Steeculie^. Flowers unisexual. Calyx mostly coloured. 

 Petals 0. Anthers 5-15, on the apex of a long or short column. Ripe 

 carpels free, sessile or stipitate 1. Stekculia. 



Tribe 2. Dombete^e. Flowers bisexual. Petals often persistent, flat. 

 Stamens (in the Cape genera) united at base into a cup, alternating singly 

 or in parcels of 2-3, with 5 strap-shaped stamiuodia. (Gen. 2-3.) 



Bracts deciduous. Fertile stamens 2-3 2. Dombeta. 



Bracts persistent. Fertile stamens 5 5. Melhania. 



Tribe 3. Hermann:^. Flowers bisexual. Stamens 5, connate at base ; 

 no staminodia. (Gen. 4-6.) 



Ovary 1-celled, unequal-sided ; style lateral 4. Waltheria. 



Ovary 5-celled, many-seeded ; style central. 



Filaments broadly linear, oblong or obovate .... 5. Hermannia. 



Fdaments abruptly dilated in the middle 6. Mahernia. 



Tribe 1. Sterculieje. 

 1. STERCULIA, Linn. 



Flowers unisexual, without petals. Calyx coloured, campa- 

 nulate or tubular, 5-7-cleft or parted, the segments leathery. 



