134 NATURAL IIISTORY OF PLANTS. 



oppositipetalous ; style stigmatiferous at apex, subentire or to a 

 greater or less distance 5-fid or 5-lobed ; ovules 2 in each cell, in- 

 serted at base of internal angle, ascendent ; micropyle extrorse, 

 inferior. Capsule subglobose ecliinate ; carpels separating at matu- 

 rity, inwardly 2-valved 1-spermous. Seeds exalbuminous ; embryo 

 rather fleshy ; cotyledons reflexed at the summit of tigella, and 

 much spirally convolute round it. — Undershrubs, erect or scandent 

 sarmentose ; branches often narrow aculeate ; leaves alternate sti- 

 pulate, of various forms, sometimes sagittate ; flowers small in 

 pedunculate cymes, usually umbelliferous, peduncle lateral to the 

 leaves, connate with the branchlets, more or less elevated (Ail the 

 Trojrical regions of the Globe). Seep. 78. 



24 ? Ayenia L. 1 — Flowers nearly of Buettneria ; cucullus of 

 petals dorsally naked, or glandular stipitate enlarged. Stamens 5 soli- 

 tary, sterile, between lobes of androceum ; anthers 3-celled. 2 Grermen, 

 ovules, capsule and seeds nearly of Buettneria. — Herbs or undershrubs, 

 hairs stellate hirsute, tomentose, or glabrescent ; leaves serrate ; 

 flowers in axillary or lateral cymes 3 (Warm America*). 



25. Commersonia Forst. 5 — Flowers nearly of Buettneria ; base of 

 petals wide concave, upper part ligulate. Staminodes alternipe- 

 talous, 3-fid or 3-nate, elongate; anthers fertile, 2 -celled, separate. 

 Germen 5-celled ; ovules ascendent, 2-6 in each cell (or more rarely 

 more) 2-seriate ; styles distinct or coalescing to a greater or less 

 height. Capsule loculicidal, hairs generally flaccid, echinate ; seeds 

 ascendent ; embryo albuminous ; cotyledons foliaceous. — Trees or 

 shrubs, leaves often oblique at base, sometimes cordate, incised or 



1 Gen., n. 1020.— J., Gen., 278.— GiERTN^ ser. 4, xvii. 333. — Walp., Sep., ii. 796; 



Fruct., i. 302, t. 79.— DC, Prodr., i. 487.— Ann., iv. 323 ; vii. 431. 



Extra., Gen., n. 5332. — B. H„ Gen., 225, n. 31. 5 Char. Gen., 43, t. 22.— J., Gen., 428. — 



—Dayenia Mill., Icon., t. 118. G^ktn., Fruct., ii. 79, t. 94. — Lamk., III., 



'-' If anthers 2; one 2-celled ; the other 1- t. 18. — A. S. H., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 1, vi. 



celled? If anthers 3, 1 -celled comment ? 134. — J. Gay, in Mem. Mas., x. 205, t. 14-, 15. 



3 Gen. scarcely to be distinguished (except — DC, Prodr., i. 486. — Spach, Suit, a Btijfon, 

 by habit) from Buettneria, of which, perhaps, it iii. 487. — Endl., Gen., n. 5329. — B. H., Gen., 

 would be better considered a section. 226, 9S4, n. 34. — H. Bn., in Payer Fam. Nat., 



4 Spec. 7, 8, Cav., Diss., v. 289, t. 147. — 292. 

 Likfl., It., 200. — Tb. & Pi., in Ann. Sc. Nat,, 



