RUBIACEM 



273 



namiltonia {Leptodermis) 

 lanceolata. 



cells is reduced to one, in another genus, ordinarily placed in a 

 distinct group, Hamiltoma, the number of ovarian cells becomes equal 

 to that of the divisions of the corolla, to which they are superposed. 

 The flowers of Hamiltonia are otherwise those of Serissa, the lobes 

 of the corolla being valvate or induplicate. The style is divided 

 into fiye stigmatiferous branches. The 

 ovarian cells enclose each an ovule in- 

 serted quite at the base of the internal 

 angle, with the micropyle inferior and 

 exterior, and the fruit opens in five 

 valves which, separating from top to 

 bottom, expose each a sort of reticulated 

 sac enveloping the seed. They are 

 Asiatic shrubs with opposite leaves, 

 foetid odour and flowers in terminal 

 cymes, sometimes very singular. Those 

 distinguished under the generic name 

 of Leptodermis, have the style deeply 

 divided in strips ; and the reticulated 

 sac which covers the seed remains en- 

 tire, whilst in Hamiltonia proper, it 



opens in three nearly regular valves at the base. The pannels of the 

 capsule are here detached only in the upper portion, whilst in 

 Leptodermis they separate from the base (fig. 246, 247). 



Beside the preceding has been placed, with some doubt, Pseudo- 

 pyxis depressa, a small Japanese herb, in the flowers of which all the 

 verticils are ordinarily pentamerous and the inferior ovary is sur- 

 mounted by a cupule lined with a glandular disk. At the margin of 

 the latter are inserted the perianth of five lanceolate sepals, and a 

 funnel-shaped corolla with ^nq pointed valvate lobes. In each ovarian 

 cell is an ovule with micropyle exterior and inferior ; and the style, 

 very long and slender, divides into five stigmatiferous branches. The 

 fruit is said to consist of five indehiscent cocci. The flowers are 

 terminal or axillary, and most frequently solitary. 



Pcederia has also given name to a separate tribe (Poideriece), biit 

 with us, like Opercidariece, form only a subseries of the Anthospermece. 

 In Pcederia proper (fig. 248-250), from tropical Asia and Africa, the 

 flowers, hermaphrodite or polygamous, 4-6-merous, have a calyx 

 with divisions more or less deep, often reflexed at the summit ; a 



VOL. VII. T 



Fig. 246. Portion 

 of fruit, sur- 

 mounted by 

 the calyx. 



Fig. 247. Peed 

 surrounded by 

 reticulated sac 

 oftheendocarp. 



