54 NATURAL IIISTORY OF PLANTS. 



leaves alternate, fleshy, narrow, entire, ciliate, exstipulate ; flowers 

 in axillary cymes, 3-bracteate ; sometimes in terminal racemose cymes 

 (Tropica! and West. Asia, Trojncal and South Africa). See p. 29. 



II. BARBEUIEiE. 



G. Barbeuia Dup.-Th. — Flowers hermaphrodite regular; recep- 

 tacle slightly convex. Sepals 5, imbricated. Stamens co, hypo- 

 gynous. Filaments free, inserted on annulus of receptacle ; anthers 

 2-locular, introrse, longitudinally 2-rimose. Germen superior, 

 2-locular ; styles 2-partite ; lobes erect, thick, interior stigmatiferous ; 

 one ovule in each cell, subbasilar amphitropous ; micropyle inferior 

 lateral. Fruit, "capsular 2-lobed, 2-locular ; cells 1-spermous; seeds 

 semi-arillate." — Sarmentose glabrous shrubs ; leaves alternate, entire 

 petiolate, articulate at base. Flowers in short, rigidly compressed 

 axillary racemes; pedicels alternate, apices swollen {Madagascar). See 

 p. 30. 



III. AGDESTIDE.E. 



7. Agdestis Moc. and Sess. — Flowers hermaphrodite, 4-merous ; 

 receptacle obconical, concave. Sepals 4, inserted on the margin of re- 

 ceptacle ; pra?floration alternate imbricate. Stamens oo (of Barbeuia), 

 epigynous. Germen adnate to interior of receptacle 4-locular ; cells 

 opposite sepals ; one ovule in each cell, subbasilar, ascending ; 

 micropyle exterior inferior ; style erect in column, apex 4-fid ; lobes 

 reflexed, stigmatiferous within. Fruit. . .? — A climbing shrub ; leaves 

 alternate, petiolate, cordate ; flowers axillary, or arranged in terminal 

 ramified racemose cymes ; pedicels 2-bracteolate {Mexico). See p. 32. 



IV. RltlNEJ]. 



8. Bivina Plum. — Flowers regular, hermaphrodite ; receptacle 

 conical, depressed. Sepals 4, imbricated, subpetaloid, finally vires- 

 cent, persisting. Stamens either 4, alternisepalous, or 8—12 (4-8 in- 

 terior) ; filaments free or connate at base, persistent ; anthers introrse, 

 2-rimose. Germen 1-locular ; style eccentric, slender or insignificant, 



