528 



SCLERANTHACE.E. 



[Perigynous Exogf.ns. 



Order CCII. SCLERANTHACE/E.-Scleranths. 



Sclerantheae, link Enum -^\ { ^ ) \ 



; DC. Prodi: 3. 377 

 Meisn. Gen. p. 133 ; 



(1828) a § of Illecebrese ; Bart!. Ord 

 Endl. Gen. p. 962. 



Aat. 



h£3ng down from the point of a slender cord which rises from be 



ase of the ovary. Fruit a membranous utricle inclosed within the 



a rdetd calvx. * Seed pendulous from the apex of a funiculus, which 



arises from the bottom of the cell ; embryo cylindrical, curved round 



farinaceous albumen ; radicle superior, but next the ™™- . 



The weedy plants called Scleranths, are by most Botanists and 



among the rest by De Candolle, referred to Knotworts, from wb eh the> 



differln the absence of petals ---^ *» «£*? w£ii t 



stamens proceed, and in the number 

 of the latter often exceeding that of 

 the divisions of the calyx. They are, 

 in fact, perigynous Chenopods, rather 

 than Knotworts. Their affinity seems. 

 however, to be quite as great with 

 Nyctagos, with which they agree m 

 most respects except their truly peri- 

 gynous stamens and small herbaceous 

 ribbed calyx. 



Fenzl proposes to divide this tri- 

 fling Order into two tribes, viz. Eu- 

 sclerantherc, and Habrosie*, but the advantage of ddng so is j£**£^ and 



The species are found in barren fields in Europe, Asia, ana *° lul " ' 



sterile places in countries of the southern hemisphere beyond the ti-op.cs. A 

 species is described from Peru. 



They are all uninteresting weeds, of no known use. 



GENERA. 



Mniarum, ForsU 

 Ditoca, Banks; 



Sclerantlms, Z. 

 (iuilleminia, //. B. K. 

 llabrozia, Fenzl. 



Numbers. Gen. 4. Sp. 14. 



Chcnopodhwca. 

 Position.— Tctragoniacdc.— ScLERANTHACE.t:.— Basellacete. 



Nyctagbuicece. 



Fig CCCLX. 



in 



singl' 



Fin CCCLX.— Scleranthus perenms. i. J 

 satyx i 3. ovary ; 4. anther , 5. sectiou of seed 



i. young c 



alyx forced open; 2. perpendicular section of rip 



