MACLOSKIE : LOASACE/E. 585 



PASSIFLORA Linn. 



Flowers large, on jointed peduncles. Ovary stalked, the filaments 

 united around it, separate above ; anthers versatile. Fruit a berry. 



Species 250, chiefly in S. Amer., some in Asia and Austral., i in 

 Madagascar. 



P. CCERULEA Linn. 



Leaves glabrous, 5-partite, their lobes oblong, entire. Petioles 4- 

 glandular at the apex. Stipules falcate. Bracts ovate, entire. Crown 

 shorter than the calyx. 



(Brazil; Peru); N. Patagon., near Carmen de Patagones (escaped?). 



Family 73. LOASACE.E. 



Erect or climbing herbs or shrubs, often having stinging hairs, with 

 exstipulate leaves, and perfect, regular, 4-$-merous flowers, having calyx- 

 tube adnate to the ovary. Petals separate (sometimes 10), inserted on the 

 calyx-throat. Stamens mostly numerous, inserted with the petals, often 

 in clusters. Ovary i (2-3)-celled, with 2-3 parietal placenta. Capsule 

 crowned by the persisting calyx-limb. Seeds mostly numerous; with 

 scanty endosperm. 



Species 200, American, with a solitary exception. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



A. Staminodes none, or the outer stamens as filaments or petaloid. Petals mostly flat. Seeds 

 i-2-seriate on the 3, rarely 5, parietal placentae. Leaves -usually alternate. 



i. Mentzelia, p. 586. 

 A2. Fertile and sterile stamens intermingled, the fertile antipetalous, the barren as nectary-scales, 



antisepalous. Petals cucullate. 

 b. Capsule opening apically, 3(-5)-lobed, mostly clavate or obconic, rarely twisted. Leaves 



opposite and alternate. 2. Loasa, p. 586. 



b2. Capsule opening apically by 3-lobes, cylindrical. Leaves 2-3-pinnatisect. Flowers 



sessile. (Grammatocarpus.) 3- Scyphantlms, p. 589. 



3. Capsule opening below, not apically, turbinate, often spirally twisted. Leaves opposite, 



decussate, with stinging hairs. 



c. Stem terete. Flowers usually cymose. Placenta; broad or 3-parted. Capsule thin- 

 walled. 4- Cajoplwra, p. 589. 

 c2. Stem quadrangular. Flowers solitary on axillary peduncles. Placentae first fleshy, 

 afterwards dry and enlarged for disseminating the seed. 5. Blumenbachia, p. 590. 



