LXri. FICOIDEiE. 131 



thick and fleshy. Flowers mostly terminal, white red or yellow, some 

 dazzlingly brilliant, opening mostly in bright sunshine, — About 300 species. 



2. TETRAGONIA, Linn. 



Calyx 4-cleft, rarely 3-5-cleft, its tube adhering to the 4-5- 

 angled ovary ; lobes coloured within. Petals wanting. Stamens 

 variable in number, sometimes definite, sometimes fascicled ; 

 anthers oblong or linear. Ovary inferior, 3-9-celled, by abor- 

 tion 1-2-celled ; ovules solitary ; styles as many as the ovarian 

 cells, very short. Drupe or nut winged or horned, indehiscent, 

 1-9-celled. Seeds solitary. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 4G0. 



Herbs or undershrubs, with alternate, flat, fleshy, undivided, usually quite 

 entire leaves, and axillary, sessile or stalked, green flowers. — 23 Cape species, 

 dispersed. 



3. AIZOON, Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted, coloured within. Petals 0. Stamens about 

 20, in the bottom of the calyx, and disposed in 3-5 tufts. 

 Ovary free, 5-angled, 5-celled ; cells with 2 or many ovules ; 

 styles or stigmas 5. Capsules 5-celled, opening at the top, 

 like a star ; cells 2-10-seeded. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 469. 



Small herbs or undersliriibs. Leaves opposite or alternate, fleshy, quite 

 entire. Flowers in the axils of the leaves or forks of the stem, mostly 

 sessile. — 7 species, dispersed. 



4. ACitOSANTHES, E. and Z. 



Calyx 5-parted, coloured within. Petals 0. Stamens 10- 

 40, 2-seriate, in parcels on the top of the funnel-shaped calyx- 

 tube, the outer longer ; filaments capillary ; anthers linear. 

 Ovary free, 2-celled ; ovules solitary ; stigmas 2, filiform. Cap- 

 sules subglobose, enclosed in the persistent calyx, 1-celled, 2- 

 valved. Seeds 1-2, fixed to the base. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 473. 



Decumbent, forked, glabrous undershrubs. Leaves siibconnate, opposite 

 or in fours. Flowers axillary or in the forks, solitary, peduncled. — 4 

 species, all Western. 



5. GALENIA, Linn. 



Calyx 4- or 5-parted, coloured within. Petals 0. Stamens 

 8-10, in 4 or 5 sets, or 1 or a pair alternating with the calyx- 

 lobes ; anthers versatile, didymous ; cells turgid. Ovary free, 

 2-5-celled, or by abortion 1-celled ; cells 1-ovulate ; styles 

 2-5. Capsules 2-5-celled, or by abortion 1-celled, 3-5-fur- 

 rowed or 2-edged, dehiscent, or, if unilocular, indehiscent. 

 Seeds solitary, shining, striate, fixed to long cords rising from 

 the base of the cell. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 473. 



Herbaceous or half-shrubby, much-branched plants, with alternate or 

 opposite, fleshy, quite entire leaves, and minute, axillary, mostly sessile 

 flowers. — 18 species, dispersed. 



K 2 



