6 FLORA OF MADRAS, [Acrotrema. 



Stamens in many hypogynous series ; anthers innate with lateral 

 or apical dehiscence. Carpels 1 or more, free or joined at the 

 axis ; styles quite distinct ; ovules amphitropous, solitary or few, 

 and ascending or many, and attached to the ventral suture. 

 Fruit follicular or indehiscent and sub-baccate. Seeds 1-many, 

 with an aril, testa crustaceous, raphe short, albumen fleshy ; 

 embryo next the hilum, minute. 



Herbs, usually stemless, with large radical leaves 1. Acrotrema. 



Trees or climbing shrubs : 



Stamens with filaments thickened upwards and oblique anther cells ; 



fruit of several shining follicles 2. Tetracera. 



Stamens with cylindric filaments and parallel anther cells ; fruit 



globose, enclosed in the enlarged fleshy calyx 3. Dillenia. 



1. Acrotrema, Jack. 



Herbs, usually stemless with woody rhizomes. Leaves large, 

 parallel-nerved, entire, toothed or pinnatipartite, with deciduous 

 sheathing stipules. Scape short, axillary, many-bracteolate. 

 Flowers large, yellow. Sepals and petals 5 each. Stamens 

 numerous, in 3 bundles, which alternate with the carpels ; fila- 

 ments thread-like ; anthers erect, dehiscing from the middle to the 

 top. Carpels 3, slightly cohering at the axis ; styles subulate, 

 recurved; ovules 2 or more. Follicles 3, bursting irregularly. 

 Seed solitary; aril membranous; testa crustaceous, pitted. 



ACROTEEMA ARNOTTIANUM, Wight J F. B. I. i. 32. 



Stem short, rarely none or elongated ; leaves obovate- oblong, 

 blunt, sharply toothed, 6-12 in. long; scape many-flowered, 

 axis long or abbreviated. 



Forests of W. Ghats in Travancore and Tinnevelly, at 1,000- 

 3,000 ft. 



2. Tetracera, Linn. 



Climbing shrubs or trees, scabrid or pubescent. Leaves with 

 parallel main nerves. Floivers in terminal or lateral panicles, 

 hermaphrodite or sometimes unisexual. Sepals 46, spreading. 

 Petals 4-6. Stamens many, with filaments dilated upwards and 

 distant anther-cells. Carpels 3-5 ; ovules many, in 2 rows. 

 Follicles coriaceous, shining. Seeds 1-5, with a fimbriate or 

 toothed aril, 



