310 XCAITI. POLYtiONE.l-. 



2. EMEX, Neck. 



Flowers polygamo-inoua^cious. — Male : Calyx herbaceous, 

 5-G-parted, the lobes equal, spreading. Stamens 4-G ; fila- 

 ments short ; anthers basifixed, oblong. — Eem. : Calyx herba- 

 ceous, 3-angled, funnel-shaped, 6-fid, enlarged and indurated 

 in fruit, the 3 outer lobes continuous with the angles of tl^e 

 tube, spinescent and spreading, the 3 inner smaller, flat, erect. 

 Styles 3 ; stigmas pencilled. — DC. Frod. x\\. p. 40. 



Weed-like annuals, common to Southern Europe, Nortliern and Southern 

 Africa, and Asia. Stems depressed, branched. Leaves petioled, deltoid- 

 ovate, entii'e. Flowers green, in axillary, often racemose tufts. — 1 species, 

 common through the colony. 



3. RUMEX, Linn. 



Flowers bisexual, or polygamous or dioecious. Calyx her- 

 baceous, deeply 6-parted, the lobes imbricate in 2 rows, those 

 of each row subequal among themselves, those of the inner 

 row eulargirig and closely iuvesting the fruit, coloured or 

 veiny-membranous, 1 or more of them tubercled at base. 

 Stamens 6 ; filaments short ; anthers basifixed, oblong. Ovary 

 3-angled ; styles 3, very short ; stigma multifid. — DC. Frod. 

 xiv. p. 41. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs ; many of them rank weeds, as the various kinds of 

 Dock. — Several South African species, dispersed. 



4. POLYGONUM, Linn. 



Flowers bisexual. Calyx corolloid, 5-parted, the lobes sub- 

 equal, entire, all similar, fiat, or the outer 2-3-keeled or dor- 

 sally winged, at length closing round the nut. Stamens 8 

 (rarely 7-4), in the bottom of the perianth, often alternating 

 with the scales of a perigynous ring.; anthers versatile. 

 Ovary compressed or 3-cornered ; styles 2-3, sometimes con- 

 nate ; stigmas capitate. Nut not winged. — DC. Prod. xiv. 

 p. 83. 



A vast, cosmopolitan genus, of which there arc several South African 

 species. — Herbs erect, decumbent or twining. Ocreai membranous, dis- 

 coloured, cylindric, ciliate or nude or 2-partite or multifid, the floral mostly 

 leafless. Leaves alternate, various. Flowers axillary, racemose, spiked or 

 capitate. 



Order XCIX. PHYTOLACCE^. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely dioecious. Perianth single, 

 4-5-parted ; segments imbricate. Stamens hypogynous, in- 

 serted on a convex disk or at the base of a disk that lines the 



