BILLBNIACEM. 



89 



an anther.' The carpels, two in number, are analogous to those of 

 Adrasicea. Near the base of the inner angle are inserted two 

 ascending ovules, of which the micropyle is at first introrse. The 

 dry fruits often contain a single arillate seed. 



Ilidtia,- which has been raised to the rank of a distinct fjenus, is 

 merely a Pachi/tiema with flattened staminal filaments not dilated 



Pachynema complanatu 



Fig. 126. 

 Floriferous branch. 



Fig. 127. 

 Longltudiuul section of flower. 



below ; but one species is known, which has been rightly replaced 

 in the genus Fachynema? The small shrubs or undershrubs consti- 

 tuting this genus have no true leaves. Tliey have only small scales 

 or bracts arranged alternately on the axes, which may be nearly round 

 or deformed — flattened like those of Xylophjlla, and sometimes even 

 very broad and quite leaf-like.^ The flowers are axillary to these 

 scales, solitary or in few-flowered cymes, and supported on short, 

 often recurved, styles, with the dilated summit of which they are 

 articulated. 



' The symmetry of the androceum with 

 respect to the perianth is not easy to make out 

 in dried flowers. It seems that there is but one 

 whorl of sterile stamens of whicli some are de- 

 duplicated. The fertile stamens are internal to 

 these and alternate with the two carpels. (See 

 Adansonia, vi. 266.) There are sometimes nine 

 fertile stamens in Pachynema, and more usually 

 seven, of which one appears to be exactly opposite 

 a petal. 



2 DuTJiiM. & Hart., Hook. Journ., vii. 

 51.— Walp., Ann., iv. 37.— B. H., Gen., loc. 

 cit. 



•' P. conspicuum Bextu., FL Auslr., loc. 



n. 1. — Huttia consplctta J. Decmm;., loc. 



* There is hardly any natural order in which 

 this sort of deformity of the axes which is 

 usually correlated with the reduced appendicular 

 system does not occur ; we may cite in this place 

 (besides the EuphorhiacecE) the Polygonacece, 

 UmhelUfera, Legiuninosce, &c. P. complanatum 

 K. Br., derives its specific name from the form of 

 its branches, which are like little flattened 

 bandlets, with nearly parallel edges, as in Car- 

 mickalia, Possiaa, &c. The cladodia of P. 

 dilalatum Bexth., have e.xmtly the form of 

 those of certain Xylophyllas from the Antilles. 



