CRLMNACEffl. 



231 



united at the summit of the branches or in the axils of the superior 

 leaves in ramified clusters of cymes, generally biparous (fig. 222). 

 There are also three other genera of this family known, natives of 

 the same country and presenting the same general characters as the 



Schizolana rosea. 



Fig. 241. 



Long. sect, of flower ( T ). 



Fig. 242. 

 Gyuseceum, one cell open ( T ). 



Fig. 213. 

 Fruit. 



preceding. These are : Sarcolmia (figs. 235-237), which instead of 

 ten stamens, has an indefinite number, and the fruit of which is 

 capsular with three cells; Schizoltena (figs. 238-243), having two 

 flowers in the same involucre, which is accrescent after prsefloration, 

 and then incised upon its edges (fig. 241), very numerous stamens, 

 and an indefinite number of ovules in each cell (figs. 241, 24.2) ; 

 Bhodolana, the involucre of which, also biflorous, is formed of two 

 very small bracts, the stamens, indefinite in number, are inserted 

 within a short circular disc, and each of the three ovary cells contain 

 in the internal angle four ovules arranged in two ranks. 



Thus constituted this small family only contains nine or ten 

 species; it was established in 1806 by Dupetit-Thouars, who alone 

 has studied it much hitherto. We have just added a genus very 

 incompletely known 1 and have besides described a species 2 differing 



1 Scleroolcena (H. Bn., in Adansonia, x. 234), 

 which certainly belongs to this family, and which 

 cannot be placed in any of the known genera, 

 since we are only acquainted with the fruit. This 

 is surrounded by a woody involucre, smooth with- 

 out and within, of the form and size of a small 

 egg. It presents a circular opening, the edge of 

 which is furnished with a reflexcd fringe formed 

 of penicillate hairs. The fruit proper is very 



small in reference to the involucel; it is three- 

 celled and polyspermous surmounted by the 

 remains of a style with truncated apex. This 

 genus, therefore, must be allied to those having 

 multiovulate ovary cells, but it differs from all 

 of them inasmuch as its involucre contains but 

 one fruit and also by the singular character of the 

 involucre itself. 



2 In Adansonia, x. 177. 



