E UP HO RBI A CE^E. 



Vi% 



pendent of eaeli other, sometimes pendent and sometimes ascendent, 

 extrorse, lateral, or introrse. The gynfeeeiim, formed of two or three 

 carpels, is often accompanied by a hypogynous disk, whose elements,- 

 linear or squamiform, alternate with the carpels. The species with 

 ascendent stamen cells are sometimes herbaceous, but more generally 

 woody and arborescent. The species of Mercurialis of the section 



MercurialU ainiiia. 



177. JIalc stalk. 



Fig. 179. Female stalk. 



^1 



Fig. 178. Male flower ( j). Fig. 180. Female flower (}). Fig. 181. Female flower, 



without gvnajceum. 



Fig. 182. Norm.ll female 

 flower seen from above. 



Fig. 183. Female flower 

 with four sepals. 



Fig. 184. Female flower 

 with five sepals. 



Erythrococca arc woody and thorny; finally, several herbaceous Cape 

 species have an androceiim reduced like that of Dysopsis to throe 

 stamens. Tetrorchidium, consisting of shrubs from tropical America, 

 have nearly the same vegetative organs and flowers as the species of 

 Mercurialis forming the sub-genus Clao.rylon ; but their stamens are 



