182 NATURAL HISTORY UF PLANTS. 



either quite free [Aphora),^ or variously connate Mdtli petals and 

 anclroceum, or closely clasping the aucfroceum column at base {Croso- 

 phora). Stamens 10, 2-verticillate, oi- more rarely 3-5, oppositi- 

 petalous, sometimes 11-15, 3-verticillate, all inserted on central 

 column in verticils higher than perianth ; filaments beyond free ; 

 anthers erect introrse or extrorse {Crozoplioro), 2-rimose. Germen rudi- 

 mentary placed between filaments at the summit of the column, some- 

 times more evolute ( Caperonia ^), entire or 3-5-partite oftener minute 

 or 0. Female calyx 4-5-merous imbricated or valvate, sometimes 

 small or subsirailar to sepals {Crozophora), sometimes 0. Glands hypo- 

 gynous, alterni-petalous free or coalescing, sometimes connate in 

 urceolate disk (Speranskia) more rarely minute or 0. Germen 3-locular, 

 sometimes siu'rounded by minute staminodes ^ ( Crozophora) ; ovule soli- 

 tary in cell ; micropyle extorse superior,'' capped by thin obturator ; 

 style branches 3, more or less, sometimes high, and once or several 

 times 2- co-fid or lacinate, stigmatiferous at apex. Capsule 3-coccous, 

 seed subglobose exarillate ; external coat soft, sometimes relaxed ; 

 testa outwardly smooth or tuberculate, — Annual or perennial herbs, 

 undershrubs or shrubs ; juice often purple. ( Crozophora, Argijthamnia, 

 Chiropetalum) ; fragrance sometimes of Mel/lotus {PMlijra) ; parts 

 glabrous or pilose ; hairs simple, ramified, stellate or lepidote ; stem 

 and branches unarmed or variously aculeate {Caperonia), sometimes 

 spinescent ; leaves alternate, petiolate or subsessile, penninerved 

 sub-3-plinervod at base, entire, dentate, sinuate, or lobate, base 

 below 2 -glandular, and at margin sometimes pauciglandular; stipules 

 small, herbaceous or glauduliform, sometimes [Phihjra) changed 

 into spines. Flowers'^ 9 in axillary and terminal racemes, 1- or 2- 

 sexual, solitary in the axil of each bract of the raceme or few cymose ; 

 female inferior ; others rather more numerous male. {Mediterranean 

 regions, West India, North China, warm Eastern and Western Africa, 

 tropical and subtropical America, North and South.) 



1 NuTT. in Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. n, ser. v. of subperigynous nature. 

 m.—Serophyton Bexth. Sulp/i. 52. — Endl. ■* Nuoleus at ape.\ much dilated complanate. 



Gen. Suppl. v. 90. — Sfciioiiia Dwn. PL Noun. * Small, often imbued with a blackish colour. 



Univ. Bafu. (1 857), 24 (nee H. Bn.). ^ Spec, about 52. H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Spec. 



^ A. H. n. Fl. Hem. JSies. 2ii ; in Mint. Mils. vii. 169, t. G39 {Ditax is). —Kar. et Km. 



xii. 343.— Endl. Gen. n. 5831.— H. Bn. in £uU. Soc. Imp. Nat. Mosc. (1842), 446 



Enphnrb. 299^ — M. Arg. Fiodi: 751. — Schinza [Crozophora). — Kl. in Hook. Journ. ii. 50 



Dennst. Mnrt. Mnlah, 7 (ox Endi..). — Cavanilla [Caperonia). — Pkesl, Epiniel. 213 [Caperonia). — 



Vellos. Fl. Fltini. v. t. 102. — Lepidocroton Greh. et GoDH. Fl. lie Fr.iii. 100 [Crozophora). 



Vs.ESL, Fpimel. 213. — LepidococcaT-ORC-/..m.ISul/. — Schweinf. Fl. Nil. 9 [Crozophora). — H. Bx. 



Hoc. Mosc. (1848), 588. — Androphoranthm in Adansonia, i. 67, 245 [Crozophora) ; iv. 269 



Karst. Fl. Columb. ii. 15, t. 101. [Ditaxis), 288 [Argythamnia, Chiropetalum). 



^ Sometimes subinferior at base on account 



