BIX AGE M. 285 



same in number as the petals to which they are superposed. They 

 are slightly perigynous, but are inserted lower and more internally 

 than the petals. Their filaments are free, and their anthers 2-celled, 

 extrorse, dehiscing by two longitudinal clefts. The gynseceum is 

 free, composed of a 1 -celled ovary, surmounted by from three to 

 six linear styles, stigmatiferous towards the summit. There are 

 an equal number of parietal placentas, alternating with the styles 

 and supporting numerous ovules, arranged in several ranks. The 

 fruit, accompanied at its base by the persistent perianth, is a pluri- 

 valved and polyspermous capsule. The seeds, inserted upon the 

 middle of each valve, are covered with cottonous threads, and con- 

 tain under their coats a fleshy albumen, surrounding an embryo 

 with cylindrical superior radicle and nearly oval foliaceous coty- 

 ledons. 



Calantica consists of trees from the Mascareign Isles. In the two 

 known species 1 the leaves are alternate, simple, petiolate, accom- 

 panied by two lateral stipules. The teeth of the limb are glandular. 

 The flowers are disposed in ramified clusters of cymes, and accom- 

 panied by setaceous bracts and bractlets. 



Under the name of Bivinia Jalberti 2 is distinguished an apetalous 

 Calantica, the stamens of which, instead of being solitary, are 

 grouped in bundles placed before each petal, so that their total 

 number is fifty or sixty. This is a shrub of the Eastern Isles of 

 tropical Africa, whose organs of vegetation and fruit are nearly 

 the same as those of Calantica, and the inflorescence axillary. 



Beside Calantica are placed Dissomeria and Jsteropeia, which have 

 nearly the same receptacle. The former has a double corolla and 

 numerous stamens ; the latter a single pentamerous corolla and from 

 ten to fifteen stamens, united at their base in a short ring, and in an 

 entirely free ovary, three pluriovulate placentas advancing into the 

 cavity of the ovary, so as to divide it below into almost complete 

 cells. 



1 DC, Prodr., ii. 54 {Blaclcioellia). — Vent., 2 Tul., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 4, viii. 18. — 



Choix de PI. Jard. Cels. (1803), t. 56 {Black- B. H., Gen., 800, n. 13.— Mast., in Oliv. Fl. 

 ivellia). Trop. Afr., ii. 496. 



