286 XXXVII. STEKCULIACE^E. 



(Astiria) ; (3) anthers adnate to the top of the column, and arranged in a ring or 

 without order (Sterculia) ; (4) fertile stamens 5, free or nearly so, opposite to the 

 petals, without staminodes, or alternating with 5 staminodes opposite to the sepals 

 (Seringia) ; anthers extrorse, of 2 parallel or diverging cells, very rarely confluent at 

 the top (Helicteres), sometimes dehiscing at the top by 2 pores or small slits (Lasio- 

 petalum, Guichenotia) . OVARY free, sessile or substipitate, 4-5- (or rarely 10-12- 

 celled, sometimes of 4-5 (rarely more or fewer) connate or distinct carpels (Seringia) ; 

 styles as many as the cells, distinct or more or less connate; ovules 2-oo (rarely 1) 

 in each cell, fixed to the inner angle, ascending or horizontal, anatropous or semi- 

 anatropous, raphe ventral or lateral, micropyle inferior, rarely orthotropous (Sterculia 

 Balanghas). FRUIT dry, or rarely fleshy (Theobroma), carpels sometimes united into 

 a loculicidal or woody indehiscent capsule, sometimes dividing into follicles or 

 2-valved cocci. SEEDS globose or ovoid, sometimes compressed and prolonged above 

 into a membranous wing, shortly strophiolate, or more often naked ; testa coriaceous 

 or crustaceous, sometimes covered with a succulent epidermis (Sterculia) ; albumen 

 fleshy, often thin or 0. EMBRYO straight or arched, sometimes dividing the albumen 

 into 2 parts (Sterculia) ; cotyledons usually foliaceous, flat, or folded and crumpled, 

 or convolute, rarely fleshy ; radicle short, inferior, pointing to the hilum, or not. 



TRIBE I. 1 LASIOPETALEM. 



Flowers $ . Calyx petaloid. Petals 0, or scale-like, flat, shorter than the sepals. 

 Stamens slightly monadelphous at the base, 5 fertile, alternate with the sepals ; 

 staminodes 5 or fewer, opposite to the sepals, sometimes ; anthers incumbent, 

 with parallel cells, or opening at the top by 2 pores. Carpels free, or united into a 

 3-5-celled ovary ; ovules 2 or 8 in each cell, ascending. Seeds strophiolate ; albu- 

 men fleshy. Embryo straight or slightly bent, axile ; cotyledons foliaceous, flat. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Seringm. Ciuichenotia. "Thomasia, * Lasicpt-tnlum. Keraudrenia. 



TRIBE II. BUTTNERIE^E. 



Flowers $ . Petals sessile or clawed, concave or hooded, often produced and 

 tongue-shaped. Stamina! tube lobed, some lobes 1-3-antheriferous, opposite to the 

 petals, the others sterile (staminodes), opposite to the sepals. Ovary of 5-2- (or 

 more) ovuled cells. Fruit usually a loculicidal or septicidal capsule. Seeds straight 

 or arched, naked or strophiolate. Embryo albuminous or -exalbuminous, straight or 

 curved ; cotyledons sometimes flat and foliaceous, or coiled or crumpled. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Commersonia. *Buttneria. * Theobroma. Guazunia, 



Abronia. Herranea. Ayenia. Kulingia. 



1 Those tribes are taken, in inverse order, from the ' Genera Plantarum.' ED. 



