262 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Australia and Africa. Their organs of vegetation are generally much 

 like those of Rubia, 



II. SPEKMACOCE SEMES. 



In Spermacoce^ (fig. 235, 236), the flowers, hermaphrodite or 

 more rarely polygamous, have a receptacle in the form of an ovoid or 

 obconical sac, lodging in its cavity the ovary surmounted by a disk 



Spermacoce (Borrerixi) Poaya. 



Fig. 235. Inflorescence. 



236. Long. sect, of flower (^). 



more or less thick, sometimes nil or nearly so. The margin of the 

 sac supports a calyx of 2-6 divisions, very variable in form and 

 appearance, with a variable number of small tongues interposed,^ and 

 a regular gamopetalous corolla,-^ funnel-shaped or hypocrateriform, 



1 L. (Jen n. 110.— J. Qen. 197.— GiERTx. 

 Fruct. i. t. 25.— Lamk. III. t. 62.— DC. Prodr. 

 iv. 552.— EiCH. Rub. 70, t. 4, fig. 2, 3.— Endl. 

 Gen. n. 3121.— B. H. Oen. ii. 145, n. 319.— 

 Baker, Ft. Maurit. 158.— Hook. Fl.Iud. iii. 199. 

 — ? Tardavel Adans. Fam. des PL ii. 145 (ex 

 Endl.). — Covelia Neck. Elem. n. 339. — Cheno- 

 earpns Neck. Elem. n. 339. — Bigelovia Spreng. 



Si/st. i. 366. — Borreria G. F. Met. Prim. Fl. 

 Fssequeb. 79, 1. 1. — Endl. Gen. n. 3120. — Chloro- 

 phyUim PoHL (ex Endl.). — ? Gruhlmamiia Neck. 

 Elem. n. 338 (ex ^^•D\..).—Tessiera DC Prodr. 

 iv. 574. — Diphragmm Presl, B>t. Bern. 80. 



2 Several of which are probahly of stipular 

 nature. 



3 White, pink, yellow or bluish, violet. 



