SAXIFBAGACE^!. 439 



flowers in axillary filiform racemes, bare at base, densely bracteate at 

 apex ; bracts 1 -flowered ; pedicels articulated above middle (Fast 

 Indies). See p. 355. 



IX. BKEXIE.E. 



48. Brexia Dup.-Th. — Flowers hermaphrodite ; receptacle slightly 

 convex. Sepals 5, imbricate, deciduous. Petals 5, alternate ; prse- 

 floration twisted or imbricate. Stamens 5, alternipetalous, hypo- 

 gynously inserted with perianth ; filaments subulate alternating with 

 subulate-conical unequal lobes of thick disk (larger lobes 2, lateral 

 to filament) ; anthers oblong-sagittate, introrse 2-rimose. Germen 

 free, surrounded at base by sessile disk, ovate-5-gonous ; cells 5, 

 oppositipetalous, complete or incomplete ; ovules go , 2-seriate on 

 (sometimes pulpy) placentas. Fruit drupaceous ; mesocarp thin or 

 woody, afterwards 1 -celled. Seeds 00, ovate-oblong, unequally com- 

 pressed or angulate ; testa black coriaceous ; cotyledons of thick 

 embryo amygdaloid ; radicle short ; albumen fleshy thin. — Glabrous 

 small trees or shrubs ; twigs thick ; leaves alternate (evergreen) 

 coriaceous, entire or spiny-dentate ; stipules very small, scarcely 

 conspicuous ; flowers cymose, inserted in top of axillary, usually 

 rather compressed, sometimes subcladodiform peduncle (Madagascar). 

 See p. 355. 



49. Anopterus Labill. — Flowers nearly of Brexia; receptacle 

 very shortly cupuliform. Sepals 5-9, and petals as many alternate, 

 imbricate, shortly perigynous on margin of receptacle. Stamens 

 5-9, alternipetalous ; filaments subulate, dilated at base ; anthers 

 cordate-oblong versatile, introrse 2-rimose. Germen for the most 

 part superior, 1-locular, tapering to short style at apex ; style 

 finally 2-partible ; apex 2-lobed, stigmatose within ; placentas 2, 

 parietal, 00 -ovulate. Capsule oblong coriaceous surrounded at base 

 by persistent calyx, septicidally 2-valved. Seeds oo , inserted in 

 edges of valves ; testa membranous dilated-winged towards hilum ; 

 nucleus small apical ; albumen fleshy ; embryo minute axile. — Small 

 trees or shrubs, quite glabrous ; leaves alternate persistent petiolate 

 exstipulate elongated acuminate, glandular-dentate or serrate, coria- 



