MONIMIACE^ ATHEROSPERMACE^E LACISTEMACE.E. 501 



Diclin.} Flowers unisexual. Perianth somewhat globose, in one or 

 more rows, divided at the border. Male flowers : Stamens indefinite, 

 covering the whole interior of the perianth ; filaments often with 2 

 scales at the base ; anthers dithecal, with longitudinal dehiscence. 

 Female flowers : Ovaries several, superior, enclosed within the tube of 

 the perianth, each with 1 style and 1 stigma ; ovule solitary, pendu- 

 lous, anatropal. Fruit consisting of several achasnia, enclosed within 

 the enlarged perianth. Seeds pendulous ; embryo at the end of copious 

 fleshy albumen ; radicle superior. Trees or shrubs, with opposite 

 exstipulate leaves. They are natives chiefly of South America and 

 Australia. The bark and leaves are aromatic and fragrant. The 

 succulent fruit of some is eaten. There are 8 known genera, and 

 about 40 species. Examples Monimia, Boldoa, 



1027. Order 171. Atherospermacete, the Plume-Nutmeg Family. 

 (Apet. Diclin.) Flowers unisexual. Perianth tubular, divided at the 

 top into several segments in 2 rows, the inner often petaloid, and 

 accompanied in the female flowers with a few scales. Male flowers : 

 Stamens 00, inserted in the bottom of the perianth : filaments with 

 scales at the base; anthers 2 -celled, with valvular dehiscence. Female 

 flowers: Ovaries usually 00; ovule solitary, erect; style simple, lateral 

 or basilar; stigmas simple. In some flowers, though rarely, stamens 

 and pistils are found, and in that case the stamens are fewer, and arise 

 from the orifice of the perianth. Fruit consisting of achajnia, with 

 persistent, ultimately feathery styles, enclosed within the tube of the 

 perianth. Seed solitary, erect; embryo small, at the base of soft 

 fleshy albumen ; radicle inferior. Trees, with opposite, exstipulate 

 leaves, found in Australia, and in some parts of South America. They 

 are generally fragrant. There are 3 known genera, and 4 species, 

 according to Lindley. Examples Atherosperma, Laurelia. 



1028. Order 172. r-acistemacete, the Lacistema Family. (Apet. 

 Diclin.) Flowers polygamous. Perianth in several narrow divisions, 

 covered by an enlarged bract. Stamen 1, hypogynous; anther having 

 2 cells, which are separated by a thick 2-lobed connective, and which 

 dehisce transversely. Disk fleshy. Ovary superior, 1 -celled ; ovules 

 several, anatropal, attached to 2-3 parietal placentas; stigmas 2-3, 

 nearly sessile. Fruit a unilocular, 2-3-valved capsule, with loculicidal 

 dehiscence. Seed usually, by abortion, solitary, suspended, with a 

 fleshy arillus; spermoderm crustaceous; embryo in fleshy albumen ; 

 cotyledons flat ; radicle cylindrical, superior. Small trees or shrubs, 

 with simple, alternate, exstipulate -leaves, and amentaceous flowers. 

 They are natives of the warm parts of America. Their properties are 

 unknown. There are 2 genera, and 6 species. Example Lacistema. 



1029. Order 173. Chioranthacere, the Chloranthus Family. 

 (Achlamyd. Monoclin. or Diclin.) Flowers bisexual or unisexual, with 

 a supporting scale. Perianth 0. Stamens definite, lateral, and if 



