8AXIFBAQAGE2E. ■ 427 



anthers introrse 2-celled. Germen inferior, 2- or more rarely 

 3-celled ; styles 2, 3, free, stigmatose at capitellate apex ; placentas 

 subovoid, pendulous from apex of cell, go -ovulate. Capsule at apex 

 2, 3-valved. Seeds go , minute oblong. — Annual herbs, often pubes- 

 cent or glandular ; branches sub-2-chotomous ; leaves opposite entire 

 exstipulate ; flowers pedunculate or sessile axillary, paired, or (the 

 leaves changing into bracts) racemose or spicate at tops of twigs 

 {Tropical and Southern Africa, Tropical and Subtropical Asia). See 

 p. 332. 



17? Donatia Forst. — Receptacle obconical. Sepals 5, inserted 

 in throat, or more rarely 6-8. Petals as many, or 9, 10, linear or 

 ovate. Stamens 3, or more rarely 2, epigynous, alternating with 

 styles and adnate to their base ; filaments soon free, subulate ; 

 anthers extrorse 2-dymous. Germen inferior, 2, 3-celled ; placentas 

 short affixed from internal corner of cell, co -ovulate ; styles as many 

 subulate, stigmatose at unthickened or capitellate apex. Capsule 

 crowned by calyx, 2- or more often 3-celled, many-seeded, finally 

 gaping at apex. — Low densely csespitose moss-like herbs ; leaves 

 alternate densely imbricate linear thickly coriaceous entire, hairy at 

 base; flowers (sometimes 1 -sexual by abortion) terminal sessile; 

 bractlets few below the flower, sometimes passing into sepals 

 {Southern Antarctic America, Tasmania, New Zealand). See p. 332. 



II. PENTHORE.E. 



18. Penthoruin L. — Flowers 5, 6-merous; receptacle capuli- 

 form. Sepals 5, 6, valvate or slightly imbricate. Petals as many 

 small, or 0. Stamens twice as many as sepals, perigynously inserted 

 with them ; anthers basifixed, introrsely or laterally 2-rimose. Scales 

 0. Carpels 5, 6, alternating with sepals, adnate within at base to 

 receptacle, soon free, tapering into short diverging styles stigmatose 

 at capitellate apex ; placentas thick inserted in ventral angle of each 

 ovary ; ovules co , anatropous. Carpels 5, 0, inserted in common 

 receptacle, dry valvately obliquely or transversely separating and 

 dehiscing above receptacle ; seeds go , sometimes oblong papillose, 

 sometimes ovoid ; embryo rather fleshy, straight in axis of albumen ; 

 albumen rather fleshy (frequently scanty). — Perennial erect herbs ; 



