252 



FLORA OF JAMAICA 



Phyllanthns 



P. nohilts), small, in clusters in the axils or at the nodes of 

 leafless branches, or on moditied flowering branches which are 

 flattened or leaf-like, notched, with the flowers at the notches, 

 without petals, male generally numerous, female few or solitary 

 in the same axil or on a difi*erent branch. Male flowers : Sepals 

 5, 6, or 4, imbricate in two series, all similar or the outer shorter, 

 herbaceous or subpetaloid. Disk of six separate glands. Stamens 

 2, 3, 4, or 5 in the centre of the flower. No rudimentary ovary. 

 Female flowers : Sepals like those of the male. Disk saucer- 

 shaped or cup-shaped, of separate glands in P. latifolius. Ovary 

 3-celled (12-6-celled in P. reticulatus). Styles wanting or deve- 

 loped, free or united more or less in lower half, 2-branched, 

 2-lobed, or cut into many segments. Ovules two in each cell. 

 Capsule splitting up into 2-valved cocci. Seeds 3-sided, usually 

 attached below the top, without a caruncle. 



Species nearly 600, mostly in the tropics and sub-trcpics, 

 rarer in temperate regions. 



A. Leaves well developed; flowering branches not 

 flattened nor leaf-like. 

 Petiole, either wanting or very short, to one-tenth 

 the length of the blade. 

 Sepals in both sexes 5 or 6. 

 Stamens 3. 



Shrubs or trees. 



Sepals 3-4 mm. 1. Leaves to 10 cm. 1.... 1. P. nutans. 

 Sepals not over 2 mm. 1. Leaves not over 

 6 cm. 1. 



Leaves acuminate, 4-5-2 cm. 1 2. P. acuminatus. 



Leaves obovate, 6-3 cm. 1 3. P. portoriccnsis.. 



Leaves ovate to roundish, about '5 cm. 1. 4. P. Fadyenii, 

 Herbs or undershrubs. Sepals not over 

 1*5 mm. 1. Leaves not over 2 cm. 1. 

 Terrestrial. Stems not spongy at base. 

 [Leaves oblong, apiculate, 2- -5 cm. 1. 



Seeds transversely wrinkled P. Uritiaria.] 



Leaves obovate, 1-2--G cm. 1. Seeds 



minutely papillose 5. P. carolincnsis. 



Leaves oblong-elliptical or oblong- 

 obovate, rounded at apex, 1-8- 

 1 cm. 1. Seeds with 5 or G lines 



along the back 6. P. niruri. 



Aquatic. Stem at basespongy. Leaves 



elliptical, -5 --4 cm. 1 7. P. aquaticus. 



Stamens 5. 

 [Shrub or tree. Sepals 2-2-5 mm. 1. 

 Leaves elliptical or oblong-elliptical, 



2-3-5 cm. 1 .• P. reticulatus.'] 



Herb. Sepals -Gmm. 1. Leaves obovate- 



elliptical, -6-1-5 cm. 1 8. P. minor. 



