372 xxvu. STERCULIACEJE. (Maxwell T. Masters.) [Pentapetcs. 



A branched annual, 2-5 ft., glabrous or with a few scattered stellate hairs. Leaves 

 3-5 in., 1 -nerved, crenate-serrate ; petiole 1 in. Stipules subulate. Pt-dtnu-le simple. 

 axillary, as long as or longer than the petiole, 12-flowered, jointed n >ar the flower. 

 Bracteoles half the length of the calyx. Flowers red, opening at noon ami closing at 

 the following dawn, Sep<d* stellate-hairy, with a' -. ./'< t<d* obovate. 



Style short. Capsule subglobose, bristly, l::tli' the length of the persistent calyx. 



10. IttELHANI A, Forsk. 



Undershrubs. Leaves simple, downy. ./' axillary, 1-flowered. 



Bracteoles 3-5, cordate, often longer than the sepals. Flowers yellow. 

 N-/W.S- 5, connate below. P> tula :> marcescent. Stamens 10, connate below 

 into a very short tube, fertile filaments 5, alternating with as many 

 ligulate staminodes ; anther-cells parallel. Ovary sessile, 5-celled, cells 1- 

 many-ovuled ; styles .", subulate, connate below, stigmatiferous on the inner 

 face. Capsule loculicidally f>-valved. albuminous; cotyledons 



plicate, biparted, radicle inferior. DISTRIB. Species 16 distributed over 

 the hotter parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. 



* Bracteoles linear. 



1. f. incana, 7A///^ /// Wall. Cut. 1200; leaves narrow elliptic-oblong 

 serrulate, bracteoles linear-oblong shorter than the calyx, capsule sub- 

 globose shorter than the calyx. W. <!.' A. /'/W/-. i. (J8 ; Aftg. FL Jnd. tint. i. 

 pt. 2, 191. 



WKS-] KI:N PKMNSULA; dry hills in the farnatic and Mysore, Jfcyne, &c. 

 Suffruticose, brandies spreading. l.ir. \ 1 _' by \-\ in., lmear-oblong, ohtu- 

 subcordate, tomeiitosi 1 In -ncath ; podmicle 1 2-flowored, as long as the petiole, jointed 



in the niiddlr. Finn-, rx Mn.ill. y//x ', in., laia-folatc, acuminate. Petals obovat--, 

 longer than the sepals. Capsule hairy, shorter than the sepals. Seeds 2-4 in each 



cell, tuhcrclud. 



2. IMC. abyssinica, A. JficJi. Fl . J ///' i. 7H, t. 18; leaves elliptic obtuse 

 Crenate-dentate jiubi-sci-nt above paler and tomentose ln-nt-ath, bracteoles 

 linear shorter than tlie calyx, capsule longer than the calyx. Maul, in (>l<r. 

 Fl. Tr<>i>. Afr. i. 2:51. Brotera ovata, r<//-. /<. v. 20, 433. Melhania ovata, 

 Jioixx. FL Orient, i. Ml, toad. .<////. 



SIM>H, Stocks. DISTIUB. Cap*- ilr Vt-rdc island-, Abyssinia. 



Sullruticose, cano-tomentose, branches prostrate intricate spreading. Leaves 1 by 

 ij in., doubly-serrate ; petiole \\n. Stipules $ in., capillary. J'tdanrlts axillary, as 

 long as or longer than the p<-tii>le, 2 -l-ll..\vcre<l. Flir<.rx ^ in. diain. ]!r<n-t< <>1< .s nearly 

 as long as the lanceolate s-pals. Petals obovate, shorter than the sepals. Style very 

 bhort. Capsule slightly exceeding the persistent calyx. 



** Bracteoles broad, at least at the base. 



3. 1WC. cannabina, Wlalt in J/a-ft. K<w.; leaves oblong obtuse cre- 

 nulate base subcordate, bracteoles lanceolate equalling the lanceolate 

 cuspidate sepals, capsule subgibbous shorter than the calyx. 



WKSTKKN IV.Nixsn.A; in the Carnatic and Mysore, Wight, &c. 



A shrub, herbaceous portions cano-pubescent. Leaves2^ l in., sub-3-nerved, pal"r 

 bi-ueath ; petioles l in. Stipule* fogacioiu. ^/////*,s peduncled; peduncles equalling 

 the petioles; ultimate pedicels shorter than the flowers. Flowers \ in. diani. /.'/< 

 striated. Capsule villous, the size of a large pea. Seeds numerous, angled, rugose. 



4. IK. Kamiltoniana, Wall. PL Asiai. Ear. i. t. 77 ; leaves roundish- 

 ovate subcordate obtuse unequally toothed, peduncles axillary twice the 

 length of the petiole, bracteoles cordate-ovate longer than the calyx. 



