434 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



globose, adnate to receptacle at base, parting into 3-5 cocci, dehiscent 

 within 1 -seeded. Seeds oblong ; embryo in apex of fleshy albumen, 

 minute. — A slender undershrub, simple or sparingly branching, 

 strio-ose ; leaves opposite petiolate exstipulate ovate paucidentate, 3- 

 ribbed at base, deciduous; flowers (small) in terminal racemes {Cali- 

 fornia). See p. 347. 



35. Pterostemon Schauer. — Eeceptacle turbinate ; calyx 5-merous 

 valvate, and petals 5, alternate imbricate, inserted on margin. 

 Stamens 10, perigynously inserted with perianth; filaments coin - 

 planate ; alternipetalous, 5 broader 3-dentate at apex ; tooth in 

 middle bearing an oblong cuspidate introrse anther. Germen to a 

 great extent inferior ; cells 5, oppositipetalous ; style erect, 5 -fid at 

 apex; lacinise stigmatose at truncate apex; placentas axile, co -ovulate. 

 Capsule aclnate to receptacle, crowned by persistent calyx and dried 

 staminal filaments, dehiscent by 5-10 teeth at apex ; septa mem- 

 branous disrupted. Seeds co ; testa cartilaginous ; embryo axile 

 albuminous [PMladeljjhus). — A branching shrub ; small twigs terete 

 rather hairy ; leaves alternate shortly petiolate obovate glandular ; 

 stipules minute ; flowers in corymbiform cymes {Mexico). See 

 p. 348. 



VIII. ESCALLONIE.E. 



36. Escallonia L. fil. — Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous ; re- 

 ceptacle concave shortly tubular, turbinate or hemispherical. Calyx 

 inserted in margin; prsefloration valvate or imbricate. Petals 

 alternate, imbricate ; claw erect ; lamina finally patent. Stamens 5, 

 inserted with alternate petals below edge of epigynous disk ; fila- 

 ments free filiform ; anthers introrse 2-rimose. Germen inferior, 

 adnate to receptacle ; cells 2, 3, complete or incomplete ; ovules co , 

 anatropous, clothing inflated placentas ; style simple erect ; apex 

 stigmatose capitate subentire or 2, 3-lobed. Capsule crowned by 

 calyx and style, at base septicidally 2, 3-valved ; placentas filiform, 

 usually adhering to axis. Seeds co , minute linear-oblong; testa 

 membranous, often loose, sometimes fimbriate at base; albumen 

 fleshy ; embryo axile.— Trees or shrubs, often glandular-pubescent ; 

 leaves alternate, entire or serrate (evergreen) exstipulate ; flowers in 



