ACANTRACEJE. 



177 



Climbers ; seeds not supported on hard retina- 



cula ; ovules 2 in each cell, collateral . . 1. THDNBERQIA. 

 Erect or prostrate plants, not climbing : 

 Seeds not supported on retinacula ; ovules 

 many, superposed in 2 rows in each cell I- 

 Calyx 4-partite, stamens 2. 

 Bracts rigid, peduncle of spike covered 



with alternate scales . . . 2. TUBTFLORA. 



Bracts herbaceous, spike sessile, or if 



stalked the peduncle without scales . 3. NELSONIA. 

 Calyx 5-partite, stamens 4* . . 4. STAUKOQTNE. 



Seeds supported on retinacula : 



Upper lip of corolla subobsolete ; lower lip 

 large, expanded, 3-lobed ; ovules 2 in each 



cell 5. BLEPHABIS. 



Corolla 2-lipped or with 5 subequal lobes : 



Corolla lobes twisted to the left in bud : 



Ovules more than 2 in each cell, capsule 



normally 6- or more seeded : 

 Corolla distinctly 2-lipped : 



Inflorescence spinose . . .6. ASTERACANTHA. 

 Inflorescence not spinose . . 7. HYGROPHILA. 

 Corolla subequally 5-lobed : 

 Bracteoles large ; capsule clavate, 



with a solid base . . .8. EUELLIA. 

 Bracteoles small, narrow or none, 

 capsule seed-bearing through- 

 out : 



Flowers in sessile clusters which 

 are arranged on the branches of 

 a trichotomous or 1-sided 



panicle . .9. -33CHMANTHERA. 



Flowers sessile ; in terminal or 

 pseudo-axillary heads or 

 spikes . . . 10. HEMIQRAPHIS. 



Ovules 2 in each cell, capsule with 4 or 



fewer seeds : 



Placentas separating elastically from 

 the base of the capsule ; stamens 

 4 ; bracteoles very large . . 11. PETALIDIUM. 

 ^__^Tiacentas remaining attached to the 



base of the ripe capsule : 

 Anthers minutely mucronate or 

 spurred at the base ; stamens 

 four . . . . .12. DISCBORISTE. 



Anthers blunt at the base : 

 Cor-tube slender, linear ; stamens 



two . . . .13. D-ZEDALACANTHU8. 



Cor-tube widened from near the 



base ; stamens four . . 14. STROBILANTHEB. 



