320 Cir. PAROXYCUIEJ'. 



style 1, tcrniiual, seldom 2-3, 2-fid, rarely 3-fid, 8tif];matosc ou 

 the inner ikee ; ovule 1 (rarely 2), erect or pendulous from a 

 basal fuuicle. Fruit a minute 1-seeded nut or utricle, enclosed 

 in the calyx. Seed erect or inverted, with fiirinaceous albu- 

 men and a lateral or central, straight or curved embryo. — 

 Herbs, sometimes shrubby at the base. Leaves usually oppo- 

 site and quite entire, stipulate, in Sclerantlius connate at base, 

 serrulate and exstipulate. Flowers small, solitary or in cymes. 



Leaves opposite or alternate, stipulate. Style 1, simple 

 or 2-3-fid. 



Perianth of 5 obtuse lobes. Petals 0. Leaves oppo- 

 site 1. Heeniaria. 



Perianth urceolate, with 5 aristate lobes. Leaves sub- 



verticillate 2. Pollichia. 



Perianth 5-parted. Petals 5. Leaves alternate . . 3. Corrigiola. 

 Leaves opposite, connate at the base, exstipulate. 

 Styles 2. 



Calyx hardening 4. Scleranthus. 



1. HERNIARIA, Linn. 



Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual. Calyx 4-5-fid ; seg- 

 ments equal or unequal, obtuse. Petals as many, very minute, 

 or 0. Stamens 3-5, perigynous. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled ; style 

 short, 2-fid or 2-])arted ; ovule erect. Utricle membranous, 

 enclosed in the calyx. — DC. Frod. iii. ^. 367. 



Diffuse herbs. Leaves opposite or alternate, often crowded. Stipules 

 scarious. Flowers minute, green, axillary. — 1 species, also European and 

 Asiatic, diffused. 



2. POLLICHIA, Soland. 



Flowers surrounded at the base by at length somewhat 

 fleshy bracts. Calyx urceolate, 5-6-lobed ; lobes small, mu- 

 cronate, at length fleshy ; mouth closed with a thickened 

 lobed disk. Petals 0, or minute. Stamens 1-2, on the throat 

 of the perianth. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, narrowed into a fili- 

 form, twisted st3^1e, with 2-fid stigma ; ovules 2, basilar. 

 Utricle globose, included in the perianth-tube, 1-seeded. — DC. 

 Frod. iii. ^. 377. 



A diffuse herb. Leaves subwhorled, narrow. Stipules scarious. Flowers 

 minute, axillary, crowded. — 1 species, found in the Eastern districts ; ex- 

 tends to Arabia. Fruit eaten by the Hottentots.' 



3. CORRIGIOLA, Linn. 



Calyx herbaceous, deeply 5-fid ; lobes obtuse. Petals 5, 

 perigynous, as long as the calyx. Stamens 5, perigynous. 

 Ovary 1-celled ; style very short; ovule 1, suspended from a 

 basilar funicle. Nut crustaceous, ovoid, turgid, 3-angled, en- 

 closed in the rugulose calyx. — DC Prod. iii. p. 360. 



