CLXIV. GESNERACE.E. 



597 



opposite, placed right and left of the floral axis ; style filiform, simple ; stigma capi- 

 tate, concave or 2-lobed ; ovules numerous, sessile or funicled, anatropous. FRUIT 

 either fleshy with pulpy placentas, or capsular ovoid or subglobose, or siliquiform 

 with 2 straight or twisted semi-placentiferous valves. SEEDS minute, oblong ; testa 

 loose or cellular. EMBRYO straight, exalbuininous, or in the axis of a fleshy albumen ; 

 radicle next the hilum. 



TRIBE I. GESNEREffi. 



Seeds albuminous. Ovary semi-inferior or inferior. Fruit capsular. 



Rytidophyllum. 



Mitraria. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Conradia. * Gesnera. Gloxinia. * Achitnenes. 



* Ligeria. * Mandirola. * Tidaea. * Pentaraphia. 



TRIBE II. BESLERIEJE. 



Seeds albuminous. Fruit a berry or capsule. Ovary free. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Besleria. 

 * Alloplectus. 



Hypocyrta. 

 Episcia. 



* Columnea. 



* Mitraria. 



Nematanthus. 

 Tapeinotes. 



TRIBE III. CYRTANDRE&. 

 Seeds exalbuminous. Fruit a contorted capsule or berry. 



,/Eschynanthus. 

 Streptocarpus. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 [ 1. Fruit capsularJ] 

 Lysionotus. Didymocarpus. 



Bcea. 



Ramondia. 1 



Chirita. 

 Klugia. 



Cyrtandra. 



[ 2. Fruit feshy.'} 

 Rhynchotechum. 



Fieldia. 



Gesneracece are allied to Rubiacca?, Gentianece, Sesamece, Orobanchete (see these families). They 

 approach Bignoniacece in the generally opposite leaves, the imbricate aestivation (and Besleriete in the 

 hypogynous corolla), the disk girding the base or middle of the ovary, and the anatropous ovules. They 



Tapeinotes. Flower. 



Hypocyrta. Flower. 

 1 See Order Ramondieo!, p. 599. 



Alloplectui. Diagram. 



