PIPERACE31. 477 



coloured narrow subulate tongue. It has been proposed to make 

 them into a distinct genus Tricercandra, 1 which we also admit only 

 as a section of Chloranthus. 



Sarcandra- has also a frutescent stem, with all the organization of 

 Chloranihus, except that its androceum is monandrous ; for it 

 possesses only the median two-celled stamen, anterior to the ovary. 3 

 Hence it has been made, not without reason, a mere section of 

 Chloranthus* The genus thus constituted 5 contains some half-score 

 species, 6 with knotty articulate stems and branches, possessing an 

 aromatic scent, like most of the organs, and bearing opposite decus- 

 sate leaves ; these have geminate lateral stipules, nearly free or 

 united at the base with one another and the petiole, to form a very 

 ill-developed sheath. The spikes are terminal, usually ramified. 



Hedj/osmum 7 (figs. 520-525) has unisexual flowers, with both sexes 

 sometimes on the same plant, sometimes separated. The female 

 flowers are formed nearly as in Chloranthus, possessing the same uni- 

 locular ovary, the same descending orthotropous ovule, and the 

 same short style with a stigmatiferous head. Moreover the apex of 

 the ovary bears three short thick rounded wings, alternating with 

 its angles — two anterior and one posterior. Their morphological 

 value is still uncertain. The male flowers are far more simple ; 

 they are represented by numerous naked cuneate stamens (fig. 

 521), which are inserted in a spiral along a common axis; each 

 stamen has two cells, of marginal dehiscence, surmounted by a thick 

 obtuse dilatation of the connective. The genus Ilcdi/osmum com- 

 prises some twenty species shrubs and undershrubs from the warm 



1 A. Gray, Ace. of Bot. Spec. Jap., 318. — 6 W., Spec,, i. 248, 503. — Speeng., Anl., 

 Saintlegeria C. J. DE Coedem., in Adansonia, iii. iii. 620 ; Syst. Veg., iii. 683. — Sieb. & Zucc. in 

 300. Mem. Acad. Yindob. (1846), 232. — Benth., Fl. 



2 GaeDN., in Calc. Journ. of Nat. Hist., vii. Hongkong ., 334. — Bl., Enum. PI. Jan. i. 79 

 348. — C. J. de Coedem., in Adansonia, iii. 301. (Ascarina) ; Fl. Jav., fasc. 8. — Rcem. & Sch. 



3 In S.chloranthoides Gaedn., the fruit recalls Syst., iii. 29, 461, 567. — Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat. i. 

 the ovary in its external characters. The seed 802. 



contains a very copious fariuaceous albumen, with 7 Sw., Prodr., 847 ; Fl. Ind. Occ, 59. 



a subapical embryo, whose ovoid radicle is much Endl., Gen., n. 1817. — Tr/BP., in Diet. Sc. Nat. 



better developed than the cotyledons. Around Atl., t. 287. — Ag., Theor. Syst., 210. C. J. 



the latter is a little irregular pulpy mass, the de Coedem., in Adansonia, iii. 302. — De Solms 



rudiment of the fleshy amniotic albumen of Piper. Prodr., 479. — Tafalla R. & Pav., Prodr., t. 29 • 



The apex of the radicle ends in a little point. Fl. Per. et Chil., 270. 



4 De Solms., Prodr., 474. 



, n ( 1. Euchtoranihus. 



s Chloeanthfs I „, . , 



; 2. Tricercandra. 

 sect, 6. | 3 Sarcandm 



