120 KATURAL IIHiTOllY OF PLANTS. 



]lfanu/oj)/i//loii, a native of the same country, is distini2;iiisliocl from 

 CfotoHoyi/Hc by the ganroscpalous male corolla, and the female petals 

 very slightly united at the base. In Pdrucroton, from Java, the 

 flowers seem, according to the descriptions, analogous to those of the 

 preceding genera, but they have a corolla like those of Givofia, and 

 the calyx is imbricated. Leiicocroton, consisting of shrubs Irom 

 Cuba, has the valvate calyx of the Garclew^ with three or foiir sepals, 

 and from six to tt'U stamens only, surrounding a small rudiment 

 of a gynajceum. The glands of the disk are alternate with the 

 divisions of the calyx. Fscudncroton ., from Guatemala, differs from 

 Lcucocrotun by the development of the corolla, its non-elevated 

 receptacle, and the large rudiment of free gyna^ccum in the centre 

 of the stamens. SiiriyaJu, growing in the tropical regions of Asia, 



Australia, South and Eastern continental 

 s,orya,ia {GcionUun) ujanu.n. ^^^ insular Africa, havc nearly the same 



flower with stamens genei'ally more nume- 

 rous ; but the calyx is imbricated, nnd 

 the recejitacle becomes slightly glandular 

 between the stamens, while the disk of 

 the female flowers is the form of a cup. 

 The fruit, more or less fleshy, finally 

 opens like a capsule. Elateriospcrmum^ 

 consisting of trees irom Java and Malacca, 

 has nearly the same apetalous flowers as Surcgada, and is only 

 distinguished from it by its sub-drupaceous Iruit, pulpous aril, 

 and inflorescence in corymbiform cymes. Achlocrofoii aiMi'oides, 

 a thorny shrub from Cuba, similar to the preceding genera, 

 is become the type of a small group (Jcidocrotoncci') whose 

 flowers have imbricated sepals, an equal number of petals, and an 

 anther surinoiuitcd by a prolongation of the connective. This 

 plant thus seems intermediate to Jatropha and Tourncsolia on one 

 side, and on the other to Ricindla, which consists of American 

 shrubs, also often thorny, but M'hose calyx is valvate in both sexes, 

 and the flower apetalous. These plants were formerly placed -with 

 Bcrnardia^ natives of the same regions, but may be geuerically sepa- 

 rated from them, because the calyx is valvate in both sexes, and 

 the style branches, distinct from the base, are thrown out towards 

 the circumference of the summit of the ovary, leaving this free. 



