290 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



glabrous, thick and coriaceous leaves, accompanied by large inter- 

 petiolate and caducous stipules. The flowers^ are axillary, collected 

 in bi- or triparous, rarely simple, more generally ramified cymes at 

 the summit of a common peduncle ; they are sessile or pedicellate, 

 articulate, with two connate bracteoles forming a sort of involucel. 

 Half a dozen species ^ are admitted in this genus ; but perhaps this 

 number may be reduced by one half. 



From the genus BJiizophora have been separated certain species 

 which, with the same organs of vegetation, present notable differences 

 in their flowers. Such is Oerioj)s, found on most tropical shores of 

 Asia, Africa, and Oceania, which has 4-6-merous flowers, with a 



Briiguiera gymnorhiza. 



Fig. 261. Flower. 



Fig. 263. Petal with the two 

 stamens it envelops. . 



Fig. 262. Long, 

 sect, of flower (f). 



valvate calyx and petals sloping to the summit and bordered, 

 especially in their upper portion, with long stipitate glands. The 

 stamens, in appearance, are superposed in pairs to each petal which 

 receives them in its cavity, and the inferior ovary contains three 

 incomplete and biovulate cells. The flowers, not numerous, are 

 grouped in contracted cymes as a whole resembling a capitule, and 

 are geminate in a small involucre at the summit of a short and thick 

 pedicel. Bruguiera (fig. 261-263) was also formerly included in 



1 White, coriaceous. . 



2 Wight and Akn. Prodr. i. 310. — Arn. Ann. 

 Nat. Hist. i. 361.— Wight, Icon. t. 238.— Harv. 

 and SoxD. Fl. Cap. i. 513.— Oli\. Fl. Trop.Afr. 

 ii. 407.— TuL. A7in. Sc. Nat. ser. 4, vi. 108.— 



Benth. Fl. Austral, ii. 493.— Mm. Fl. I,>d.-Bat. 

 i. p. i. 585 ; Suppl. 125, 323. -8eem. Fl. Fit, 

 91.— Griseb. Fl. Biit. W.-Ind. 274.— W alp. 

 Rep. ii. 70 ; Ann. iv. 675. 



