8AKIFBAQAGEM. 455 



superior ; funicle short, thickened into an obturator. Capsule nearly 

 free, 2-4-seeded, 2-4-valved from base. Seeds ovoid reticulate, 

 suspended from thick funicle. — Branching twiggy shrubs ; leaves 

 alternate sessile, concave coriaceous, silky at back imbricate ; flowers 

 in terminal spikes, each flower solitary in axil of upper leaves of 

 twig {South Africa). See p. 384. 



91. Thamnea Soland. — Flowers nearly of Brunea ; receptacle 

 obconical or subspherical ventricose, glandular or warty outside, 

 enveloping germen. Sepals, unguiculate petals, and included stamens 

 5, nearly of Brunia. Germen spuriously 1 -celled, or imperfectly 2- 

 celled ; septum thin more {Tittmannia) or less slowly evanescent ; 

 ovules 2-4 in each cell, forming a false verticil on top of placenta 

 (which adheres to top of cell), descending ; micropyle afterwards 

 extrorse superior. Fruit nucamentaceous, 1 -seeded. Seed of Brunia. 

 — Low slender heath-like shrubs or undershrubs ; leaves small 

 spirally inserted, at apex callous glandular, imbricate ; stipules 2, 

 minute gland-like ; flowers solitary axillary sessile {Tittmannia), or 

 terminal; stipe sometimes few-leaved axillary short {South Africa). 

 See p. 385. 



XVI. HAMAMELIDE^E. 



92. Hamamelis L. — Flowers hermaphrodite or often polygamous. 

 Receptacle cupuliform. Sepals 4, free or connate at base, inserted in 

 edge of receptacle ; pramoration alternately imbricate. Petals 4 (or 

 in male flower 0), alternate elongated linear strap-like ; prsefloration 

 involute. Stamens 4, perigynously inserted with petals and alter- 

 nating with as many oppositipetalous rather fleshy staminodes ; 

 filaments free rather thick, continuous with connective ; anthers 

 basifixed introrse ; cells 2, dehiscing by 1 or more rarely 2 {LoropeU 

 alum) valves. Germen (in male flower rudimentary) inserted in 

 bottom of receptacle, to a great extent free, 2 -celled ; styles 2 ; apex 

 stigmatose, obtuse or capitellate ; ovules 2 in each cell, collaterally 

 descending ; one soon abortive ; micropyle of fertile anatropous 

 introrse superior, afterwards extrorse lateral. Fruit capsular, semi- 

 superior or nearly altogether superior, stipitate to receptacle at base, 



