MONIMIACE.l'J 



297 



sions of the calyx separate from one another, but tlie receptacular sac 

 splits very regularly down tlie intervals between the rows of stamens ; 

 a phenomenon that we may compare with that observed in many 

 species of Tamhoiirism. The only species of this small group as 

 yet known is a shrub with the foliage and appearance of a Myrtle, 

 and with axillary cymes often reduced to a single flower. The two 

 sexes are on diflerent plants. 



Under the name of Wilkiea cali/pfrocali/x' has been described a 

 plant with the foliage, female flowers, and fruit of the American 

 MoUiuedlas and lubaras ; but 



its male flowers have at most 

 eleven stamens, according to 

 F. Mueller.' This plant is 

 a native of Australia,^ and, 

 like the last, may be con- 

 sidered a type of a distinct 

 section in tlie genus Molli- 

 nedia. It possesses one or two 

 sterile stamens. 



We have given the name 



MolUnedia {Kibaropsis) macrophylla 



Fig. 332. 

 Male flower, trans- 

 verse section. 



Fig. 331. 

 Male flower (\o). 



Kibarojjsis^ to a section of 

 this genus, of which the type is MolUnedia tnacrophijlla Tul.* Its 

 vegetative organs and female flowers are those o^ 2IoUincdia, Kihara, 

 Ephippiandra and Wilkiea. But its male flowers (figs. 331, 332) have 

 only six stamens, of which four alone are fertile. These are saddle- 

 shaped, and superposed to the sepals. The two outermost stamens 

 superposed to the outer divisions of the perianth are sterile, and re- 

 duced to little fleshy scales. M. macrophi/lla is an Australian tree with 

 Holly-like leaves, and dia^cious flowers in small axiUary groups. 



1 F. MuELL., Trans, of the Phil. Tnstit. of 

 Victor., ii. 64; Fragm., v. 3. A. de Can- 

 DOLLE {Frodr., xvi., s. post., 669, n. 1) makes 

 this plant synonymous with MolUnedia macro- 

 phylla TuL., of which we shall speak a little later. 

 But these two species, as observed on the typical 

 specimens, seem quite distinct in their vegetative 

 organs. (See Adansonia, ix. 123.) 



'■' " Stamina fertiUanumeravi 11 v. pandora." 

 (F. MuELL., loc. cit.) This, again, is a character 

 which decidedly separates this plant from M. 

 macrophylla, which, as we shall see, has never 

 more than four fertile stamens. 



' " Sylvas littoreas a fluvio Hastings River 

 usque ad sinum Eockingham Bay seqiiitur." (F. 

 AluELL., loc. cit.) 



* Adansonia, ix. 124. 



^ Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 4, iii. 45, n. 16 ; Man., 

 401, u. 23. — Uedycarya macrophylla A. CtTNN,, 

 Ann. of Nat. Hist., i. 215. — Wilkiea macro- 

 phylla A. DC, Frodr., xvi. s. post., 669, n. 1. 

 A. DE Candolle, as we have stated above, men- 

 tions as synonymous with this plant Wilkiea 

 calyptrocalyx F. Mtjell., which we regard as 

 distinct (see notes 1 and 2). 



