188 cxxvui. LAURiNE.E. (J. D. Hooker.) \_Ca*sytha. 



introrse antliers, of the 2nd similar or stamens reduced to staminodes, of 

 the 3rd 2-glandular with extrorse 2-celled anthers. Fruit enclosed in the 

 succulent perianth-tube, crowned by its limb. Cotyledons at length con- 

 fluent. Species about 15, Australian, with a few S. African and one widely 

 distributed. 



1. C. filiformis, Linn. Sp. PL 35; quite glabrous, or young parts 

 puberulous, stems slender, flowers sessile in lax or dense lateral spikes, 

 perianth twice the length of the rounded ciliate bracteoles, outer sepals 

 rounded ciliate, inner oblong, fruit globose smooth (not ribbed). Nees Syst. 

 Laurin. 642; Meissn. in DC. Prodr. xv. 1. 255 ; Wight Ic. t. 1847 ; Wall. 

 Cat. 2608 and 7534; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 314; Dalz. Sf Gils. Bomb. Fl. 223 ; 

 Griff. Notul. iv. 353 ; Hook. Fl. Fxot. t. 167; Bentk. Fl, Austral, v. 311. 

 C. americana and C. guineensis, Meissn. in DC. 1. c. 311. Rheede Hort. 

 Mai. vii. t. 44. 



From BANDA to BENGAL, SILHET ? aud CHITTAGONG, and southward to TEA- 

 VANCOEE and CEYLON. PENANG, WallicJi. MALACCA, Griffith. DISTEIB. Arabia, 

 Mascarene Island, Tropical E. Asia aud islands, Australia, Polynesia, Tropical Africa 

 and America. 



Forming a web of leafless cords over bushes. Spikes |-2 in. ; flowers -^ in., white, 

 rather distant ; bracts rounded, ciliate. Perianth-segments, outer small, rounded, 

 ciliate ; inner much longer, ovate. Fruit glabrous, the size of a pea, crowned by the 

 perianth-lobes. 



2. C. capillaris, ~ Meissn. in DC. Prodr. xv. 1. 252; quite glabrous, 

 stems capillary, flowers few in very small peduncled heads, bracts minute 

 acute, sepals ovate obtuse inner rather the longest. 



CEYLON, Thwaites. DISTEIB. Borneo. 



A "much more slender plant than C.filiformis, forming hair-like masses of con- 

 siderable length. 



15. XXERNANDXA, 'Linn. 



Evergreen trees. Leaves alternate, ovate or peltate, 3-7-nerved. Flowers 

 monoecious, 3-nately involucrate at the ends of the branches gf a lax panicle, 

 pedicelled, centre flower $ with a cup alar involucel at its base, lateral ; 

 bracts of involucre 4-5, subvalvate in bud. Perianth-segments in 2 valvate 

 series, 3-6 in $ fl., 4-8 in $ fl. Stamens as many as and opposite to the 

 outer perianth- segments, filaments 1-2- or e -glandular; anthers 2-celled, 

 extrorse; staminodes 4-5 in fl. ?. Ovary inferior; style short, stigma 

 dilated toothed or lobed. Fruit enclosed in the enlarged involucel. ^ Seed 

 globose or ovoid, testa thick hard ribbed ; embryo thick, lobed and ruminate. 

 Species 8, tropical. 



H. peltata, Meissn. in DC. Prodr. xv. 1. 263; leaves rounded-ovate 

 obtuse or acute peltate, flowers in hoary long-peduncled corymbs, filaments 

 2-glandular, fruit ovoid 8-ribbed. Kurz *For. Fl. ii. 309; Beddome FL 

 Sylvat. t. 300; Bentk. FL. Austral, v. 314'; Seem. Fl. Vit. 205, t. 32. H. 

 Sonora, Linn, in part ; Wight Ic. t. 1855; Thwaites Enum. 258 ; Wall. Cat. 

 7811. 



SINGAPORE, Wallich. ANDAMAN ISLANDS, Herb. Calcutt. CEYLON; on the sea- 

 shore. DISTEIB. Malay Archipelago, N. Australia, Pacific Islands, E. Africa, Mada- 

 gascar. 



A tree j branchlets stout, smooth, wood soft. Leaves 6-12 in., rather coriaceous, 

 5-9-nerved; petiole as long, stout. Corymbs 4-10 in. broad; flowers clustered, 

 middle one of the three female with sometimes a few males below it. Malefl. ^ in. 

 diara. ; segments 6, hoary, 2-seriate ; filaments short. Female fl.. smaller ; involucel 



