Buettneria.] buettnekiacej<:, 39 



2. BUETTNERIA, Linn. 



Calyx 5-lobed. Petals clawed, concave or hood-shaped, arching over the 

 stamens and ovary, the top of the hood usually 3-lobed, the central lobe 

 long and narrow. Staminal tube short, with 5 (or rarely 10) barren lobes, 

 and 5 nearly sessile 2- celled anthers between them. Ovary sessile, 5-celled, 

 with 2 ovules in each cell. Style shortly 5-clel't at the top. Capsule globular, 

 usually covered with prickles ; the carpels separating when ripe, and opening 

 along the inner edge. Seeds solitary, without albumen. Cotyledons spirally 

 convolute, — Undershrubs or tall climbers, often prickly. Flowers small, in 

 umbels, or rarely in corymbs, mostly axillary or lateral. 



A considerable tropical genus, cliiefly American, with a few African or Asiatic species. 



1. B. aspera, Colehr. in Roxh. Fl. Ind. ed. TFall. ii. 383. A very large 

 woody climber, slightly tomentose on the young parts, the inflorescences, and 

 calyx ; the stem not prickly. Leaves broadly ovate, cordate, or nearly orbicular, 

 4 to 6 or even 8 in. long, very obtuse or with a short narrow point. Flowers 

 small, yellowish and slightly pink inside, in dense umbels or fascicles, several 

 of which are irregularly collected in lateral panicles shorter than the leaves. 

 Calyx broadly campanulate, 1-| in. long. Petals shortly bifid at the top, with 

 an intermediate linear pointed process much longer than the calyx. Staminal 

 tube with 5 ovate sterile lobes, and 5 intermediate anthers. Capsule globular, 

 near 2 in. diameter, covered with short stout prickles. 



Rather local in Hongkong, creeping over the rocks, Champion and others. Common in 

 S. China, Khasia, and Assam. 



3. PTEROSPERMUM, Schreb. 



Calyx tubular, 5-lobed. Petals 5. Stamens united into a column at the 

 base, with 5 long barren filaments and 15 shorter ones, each bearing a linear 

 erect 2-celled anther. Ovary shortly stalked, 5-celled, with several ovules in 

 each cell. Style entire. Capsule woody, with a loculicidal dehiscence. Seeds 

 winged at the upper end. Albumen scarcely any. — Trees or shrubs, with a 

 stellate or scaly pubescence. Leaves coriaceous. Flowers usually large, soli- 

 tary or few together, on axillary peduncles. 



A genus of few species, all from tropical Asia. 



1. P. acerifolium, TVilld.; IV. and Am. Trod. Fl. Penins. i. 69 ; Wight, 

 Ic. t. 631. A large tree, with spreading branches. Leaves stalked, broadly 

 and irregidarly obovate or ovate-truncate, 6 to 8 in. long, usually sinuately 

 toothed or shortly 5- to 7-lobed, and either peltate or deeply cordate at the 

 base, tomentose underneath, nearly glabrous above. Flowers 4 or 5 in. long, 

 white, fragrant, on short pedicels. Sepals tomentose. Petals obhque, long 

 and narrow. Sterile filaments nearly as long. Capsule oblong, Avith 5 raised 

 angles. 



In the woods near the Buddhist Temple, Champion. The species is apparently indigenous 

 in the Indian Archipelago, and perhaps also in Khasia and some other parts of East India. 

 It is, however, frequently planted, and it is therefore uncertain whether it may not have 

 been introduced into Hongkong. 



