OEh'AX/ACh'.E. 41 



VIII. OXALTDE^. 



15. Oxalis L. — Flowers regular (sometimes 2-morplious) ; recep- 

 tacle couvex. Sepals 5, imbricate ; the exterior usually marked 

 ^yit^l 2-=o glandular spots. Petals same in number (sometimes small 

 or 0) alternate contorted deciduous, often cohering at margin and 

 slightly insymmetrical. Stamens 10, 2-seriate; filaments free or 

 coalescing at base ; the alternipetalous longer and accompanied out- 

 side the base by a small scale of various form ; anthers introrse, 

 2-locular, often versatile, 2-rimose. Germen superior ; cells 5, 

 oppositipetalous ; styles same in number ; apex stigmatiferous 

 variously incrassate, capitate, 2-fid or lacinate recurved. Ovidcs 

 in cells 2-x) , 2-seriate, descendent ; micropyle extrorse superior, some- 

 times obturated by a small processus of the placenta. Fruit capsular 

 loculicidal ; valves persisting to columella by middle of septa or 

 rarely solute and patent (^Biophytum). Exterior seed coat fleshy, 

 falling elasticall)' and solute fi-om crustaceous testa; albumen fleshy; 

 inferior cotyledons of straight embryo foliaceous. — Small sluu'bs ro 

 mostly herbs ; stem often subterraneous, sometimes brilbous or tuber- 

 culose fleshy, varied in form ; leaves radical or cauline alternate 

 exstipulate ; petiole sometimes phyllodinous ; limb pinnate or oftener 

 digitate o-zo -foliate, sometimes ; flowers solitary or in cymes at 

 summit of pedimcle, often 1 -parous, umbelliform. [All temj). regions 

 and some tropical). See p. 22. 



IG. Hypseocharis Remy^ — Flowers (nearly of 0:i-«//s) 5-merous ; 

 stamens 15, finally more or less in 3-series. Glands oo , unec[ual 

 minute outside the androceum. Other characters of Oxalis. — Peren- 

 nial herbs ; stems short sometimes subterraneous ; leaves alternate 

 pinnate co -foliolate or deeply cut ; folioles entire or 3-lobcd ; inflores- 

 cence of Oxalis cymose few flowered umbelliform, pedunculate. 

 {Bolivian Andes.) See p. 26. 



IT. Averrhoa L. — Flowers of O.valis, 5-merous eglandular ; 

 stamens IC, all fertile, or the oppositipetalous autherless. Ovules oo . 

 Fruit baccate oblong, 5-agonal, iudehiscent. Other characters of 

 Oxalis. — Trees or slu-ubs ; leaves alternate exstipulate imparipiunato 

 or 1-3-foliolate [Connaropsis); flowers in compound cymes, short 

 axillary terminal or springing from wood of branches. {Trap. Asia.) 

 Seep. 26. 



VOL. V. - Q 



