Stegnosperma 



PHYTOLACCACE^ 



161 



567 ; Walt, in Engl. PJlanzenreich iv. pt. 83, 123. S. cubense 

 A. Bich. in Sagra Cub. x. 309 (1845), t. U » (1855). (Fig. 57.) 



Healthshire Hills, 330 ft., Brition d Harris \ Fl. Jam. 10,522.— 

 Distribution as under genus. 



Described by Dr. Britton as " A woody vine 8 m. long, climbing to the 

 tops of low trees ; its reddish fleshy fruits are 3-grooved, borne in short 



Fig. hi .—Stegnogperma halimifolia Bentb. 



A, Upper i)ortion of branch X i. C, Fruit with one valve removed x 3 ; 



B, Flower from which the petals have c, calyx ; v, valve of capsule ; «, seed ; 



fallen x 2. a, aril. 



D, Seeds enclosed by the aril X 3. 

 B, Seed in section x 5 ; e, endosperm ; e, cotyledons ; r, radicle. 



terminal racemes." Leaves elliptical, obtuse, 2-5 icm. 1,, 1-3 '5 cm. br., 

 thin, nerves and veins somewhat indistinct on upper surface, but distinctly 

 reticulate beneath. Racemes 4 cm. 1. (4 times as long in continental 

 specimens). Pedicels -5 cm. 1. Flowers of Jamaican plant not seen. 

 Calyx (in fruit) 4 mm. 1. Capsule about 7 cm. 1. with calyx and filaments 

 persistent. 



6. MICROTEA Sw. 



Annual herbs. Leaves alternate, entire. Flowers minute, 

 in terminal and axillary racemes, hermaphrodite. Perianth with 

 5 segments. Stamens 5(-8), united at base. Ovary one-celled, 

 of two carpels ; stigmas 2 ; ovule solitary. Fruit globose, 

 tuberculate. Embryo semi-annular,-i surrounding endosperm ; 



M 



