PHYTOLACCACEJS. 



27 



looking downwards and outwards, the liilum being early swollen into 

 an annular cushion. The fruit accompanied at its base by the calyx 

 which remains membranous, is formed of several carpels, at first 

 slightly fleshy, afterwards dry, each enclosing a seed quite analogous 

 to that of Phytolacca. The Er cilice are herbaceous, perennial 

 climbing plants. Their leaves are alternate, simple, exstipulate. 1 



The flowers are arranged in axillary spikes ; and each placed in 

 the axil of a bract is accompanied by two sterile lateral bractlets. 

 This genus includes probably but one species, the Chilian and Peruvian 

 E. volubilis,- often cultivated in our green houses. 



Anisomeria 3 represents the irregular form of Phytolacca* and 

 Ercilla ; for the quinary calyx, and stamens from ten to thirty, are 

 more developed on the posterior than the anterior side of the 

 flower ; and the carpels, from three to six, become achenes more or 

 less vesiculate, the seed being nearly that of Phytolacca, It consists 

 of frutescent or herbaceous plants natives of Chili, with taproots, erect 

 stems, entire leaves, and flowers arranged in racemes or terminal 

 spikes. Two species have been described. 5 



The Giseckias 6 (figs. 29, 30) may be taken in this series as a type 

 of a distinct subseries. They have small hermaphrodite or poly- 

 gamous, pentamerous flowers. 

 Their five sepals, membranous 

 at the margin, are quincun- 

 cially imbricated in the bud. 

 They cover an androceum of 

 five stamens alternate to the 

 sepals ; or of ten stamens, of 

 which five are superposed ; or 

 even of fifteen stamens, some 

 among them being replaced by 

 a pair. All have a free fila- 



Giseckia pharnaceoides. 



Fig. 29. 

 Gynseceuin (£). 



Fig. 30. 



Longitudinal section of 

 gynseeeuni. 



1 In tbeir axil is seen a bud, above which is 

 developed an adventitious root, covered with hair 

 when young. 



2 A. Juss., loc. clt. — R£ii., in C. Gay Fl. 

 Phil., v. 261. — F. spicala MoQ. — Suriana volu- 

 bilis Domb. — Galvezia spicata Beetee. 



3 Don, in Fdinb. New Phil. Journ., xiii. 

 (1832), 238.— Moq., Prodr., 25. 



4 From which they can hardly be separated, 

 except as a subgenus. 



5 Pcepp. et Endl , Non. Gen, et Spec. 26, 

 t. 43-45.— R£u., in C. Gay FL CHI., v. 

 254. 



6 L., Mantiss., n. 1340.— J. Gen., 315.— 

 Moq., Prodr., 26.— B. H., Gen., 859, n. 20.— 

 Giseckia Endl., Gen., n. 5261. — Kvelreutera 

 Mure., in Nov. Comm. Gcett., iii. t. 2, fig. 1 

 (nee Laxm.), — MUtus Lotte., Fl. Cochinch., ed. 

 1 (1790), 302.— DC, Prodr., iii. 454 (Ficoidece). 



