Trichostigma 



PHYTOLACCACEiE 



157 



Leaves elliptical to lanceolate, acuminate, cuneate at base, 5-11 cm. 1. 

 Perianth whitish, about 4 mm. 1., increasing to 5 mm. in fruit. Fruit 

 purplish-black, 5 mm. 1. 



The common names indicate its uses. The berries are said to be the 

 chief food of the " nightingale " (P. Browne). 



Fig. 54. — Trichostigma oetandnim H. Walt. 



A, Upper portion of branch x ii. E, Section of seed x 4 ; e, endosperm ; 



B, Flower-bud x 2. c, cotyledons ; /, lobed base of coty- 



C, Do. opened x 2. ledon ; r, radicle. 



D, Fruit X 3. 



3. PETIVERIA L. 



Herb, deeply rooting, shrubby at base, with odour of garhc. 

 Leaves alternate, entire ; stipules minute. Flowers hermaphro- 

 dite, in axillary and teratiinal spikes, which are solitary or two 

 together, erect or nodding. Perianth 4-cleft, segments slightly 

 increased in fruit. Stamens 4-8, perigynous. Ovary ellipsoidal, 

 tomentose, of one carpel, with 4 deflexed hook-like processes at 

 the top ; stigma sessile, penicillate, on the ventral side. Fruit 

 elongate- cuneate, covered in the lower half by the persistent 

 perianth, with 4 small lobes at the top from each of which is a 

 deflexed hook. Seed erect, linear, adherent to pericarp ; endo- 

 sperm scanty. Embryo erect ; cotyledons foliaceous, unequal 

 in size, the smaller exterior, folded on themselves ; radicle stout. 



Species 2, natives of West Indies and warmer parts of 

 America. 



P. alliaeea L. Sp. PI. 342 (1753) ; Trew PL Select. 33, /. 67 ; 

 Sw. Ohs. Bot. 138, t. x.f. in.; Moq.' in DC. Prodr. xiii. pt. 2, 9 ; 



