GERANTACE\E. 41 



VIII. OXALIDEiE. 



15. Oxalis L. — Flowers regular (sometimes 2-morplious) ; rcceji- 

 tacle couvex. Sepals 5, imbricate ; the exterior usually marked 

 with 2-00 glandular spots. Petals same in number (sometimes small 

 or 0) alternate contorted deciduous, often cohering at margin and 

 slightly insymmeti'ical. Stamens 10, 2-seriatc ; filaments tree or 

 coalescing at base ; the alternii^etalous longer and accompanied out- 

 side the base by a small scale of various form ; anthers introrse, 

 2-locular, often versatile, 2-rimose. Germen superior J cells 5, 

 oppositipetalous ; styles same in number ; apex stigmatiferous 

 variously incrassate, capitate, 2-fid or lacinate recurved. Ovules 

 in cells 2-vd , 2-seriate, descendent ; micropyle extrorse superior, some- 

 times obturated l)y a small processus of the placenta. Fruit capsular 

 loculicidal ; valves persisting to columella by middle of se^jta or 

 rarely solute and patent {Biophytum). Exterior seed coat fleshy, 

 falling elastically and solute from crustaceous testa; albumen fleshy; 

 inferior cotyledons of straight embryo foliaceous. — Small sliurbs ro 

 mostly herbs ; stem often subterraneous, sometimes bulbous or tuber- 

 culose fleshy, varied in form ; leaves radical or cauline alternate 

 exstipulate ; petiole sometimes phyllodiuous ; limb pinnate or oftener 

 digitate 3-co -foliate, sometimes ; flowers solitary or in cymes at 

 summit of peduncle, often 1-parous, umbelliform. {All iemp. regions 

 and some tropical). See p. 22. 



16. Hypseocharis Hemy'. — Flowers (nearly of Oxalis) G-merous ; 

 stamens 15, finally more or less in 3-series. Glands oj , unequal 

 minute outside the ancboceiim. Other characters of Oxalis. — Peren- 

 nial herbs ; stems short sometimes subterraneous ; leaves alternate 

 pinnate oo -foliolate or deeply cvit ; folioles entire or 3-lobed ; inflores- 

 cence of Oxalis cymose few flowered umbelliform, pedunculate. 

 [Bolivian Andes.) See p. 26. 



17. Averrhoa L. — Flowers of Oxalis, 5-merous eglandular ; 

 stamens 10, all fertile, or the oppositipetalous antherless. Ovules co . 

 Fruit baccate oblong, 5-agonal, indéhiscent. Other characters of 

 Oxalis. — Trees or shrubs ; leaves alternate exstipulate imparipinnate 

 or 1-3-foliolate (Connaropsis) ; flowers in compound cymes, short 

 axillary terminal or springing from wood of branches. {Trop. Asia.) 

 Seep. 26. 



VOL. V. G 



