334 Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



MaJiernia, formerly regarded as a separate genus, is placed 

 in a sub-section of Hermannia by Engler. In Mahernia there 

 is a sudden cross-like broadening of the stamens above the 

 middle. 



Order 



This order is confined to the narrow limits of the south- 

 western region of the Cape Province. Its six genera, compris- 

 ing twenty-two species, are all heath-like, xerophytic shrubs 

 with opposite evergreen leaves. 



Flowers regular, 4-parted ; calyx coloured, persistent, 

 valvate, enlarging ; petals wanting. Stamens 4, alternating 

 with the sepals, borne at the throat of the tubular receptacle. 

 Ovary free, 4-locular, styles simple, ovules 4-2 in each loculus, 

 anatropous, ex-endospermous. Fruit a capsule. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary, or in pairs, surrounded with showy bracts 

 which are resinous in Sarcocolla. 



Ovules 2 in each loculus, erect. 



Styles 4-angled or winged ; stigmas 4, placed 



crosswise. 

 Styles 4-winged ...... PEN^F.A. 



Styles 4-angled, not winged .... STYLAPTERUS. 



Styles terete ; stigmas 4-lobed capitate . 

 Calyx tubes not longer than the lobes ; stamens 



included ....... BRACHYSIPHON. 



Calyx tube longer than lobes ; stamens ex- 



serted ; bracts resinous .... SARCOCOLLA. 



Ovules 4 in each loculus, 2 ascending, 2 hanging. 

 Calyx tube 4-ribbed, scarcely longer than lobed. 



Flowers crowded in dense spikes . . . GLISCHROCOLLA. 

 Calyx tube long ; flowers axillary scattered . ENDONEMA. 

 The few genera and species, their limited distribution and the 

 development of the embryo sac which Miss Stephens has investigated, 

 goes to confirm the belief that this endemic order is a very primitive 

 one. 



Order GEISSOLOMATACE/E 



This order, containing but one genus, was formerly included 

 among the PENAEACE/E but has been removed because of the 

 following characters. 



