132 LXIl. FICOIDEiE. 



6. PLINTHUS, Fenzl. 



Calyx tubular ; limb 5-parted, lobes erect, subequal, co- 

 loured within. Petals .0. Stamens 5, inserted in the base of 

 the calyx, alternate with the lobes, hypogynous ; filaments 

 exserted. Ovary 3-celled ; ovules solitary, pendulous ; style 

 3-parted. Capsules ovoid, densely papillose, not depressed, 

 3-celled, loculicidal, 3-valved ; cells 1-seeded. Seeds shining, 

 striate. — Fl. Cap. ii. ^j. 479. 



P. cryptocarpus, Feiizl, found by Drege in the Nieuweveld, is a small, 

 prostrate shrub. Leaves very minute, ovate-trigonous, opposite and alter- 

 nate. Flowers hidden in the axils of the leaves, minute. 



7. ORYGIA, Forsk. 



Calyx 5-parted; segments cuspidate, of unequal length. 

 Petals 15-r30, spathulate-liuear or oval, shorter than the calyx, 

 at the base confluent into a fleshy cup. Stamens 12-40, in the 

 bottom of the calyx, some free, some united at base ; filaments 

 subulate-triangular ; anthers versatile, oblong. Ovary globose, 

 5 -eel led, many-ovuled ; stigmas 5. Capsules dry, roundish, 

 5-angled, 5-furrowed, 5-celled, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds 

 many, on ascending cords, reniform, black, concentrically 

 furrowed, arilled at the scar. — Fl. Cap. i. p. 136. 



O. decumhens, the only species, is a glabrous, glaucous, diffuse plant, 

 with angular stem and branches ; fleshy, orbicular obovate or elliptical, 

 entire or retuse, muticous or mucronate, alternate, petioled leaves, and 

 cymose flowers. It grows in the Eastern and North-Eastern districts, and 

 is also found in Arabia and the East Indies. 



8. MOLLUGO, Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted ; segments ovate. Petals or numerous, 

 shorter than the calyx, very narrow, 2-3-forked or setaceous. 

 Stamens 3-5-20, in the base of the calyx, hypogynous, free or 

 united in parcels ; filaments subulate ; anthers oblong or glo- 

 bose. Ovary ovate, 3-5- celled, many-ovuled ; stigmas 3-5, 

 linear. Capsules membranous, 3-5-angled, loculicidally 3-5- 

 celled. Seeds numerous, on ascending cords, reniform, smooth 

 or tubercled.— G-linus, Fl. Cap. i. p. 136 ; and Mollugo, Fl. 

 Cap. i. p. 137. 



Annual or perennial, procumbent, glabrous or stellately-hairy plants, 

 with alternate or whorled, entire or denticulate leaves, and small umbellate 

 or clustered flowers. — 3 Cape species, dispersed. 



9. PHARNACEUM, Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted; sepals very obtuse, coloured (white) within 

 and at the margin. Petals 0. Stamens 3-5 or 12-16 in two 

 rows, the 5 outer alternating with the sepals ; or 20-30, in 



