104 N Al URAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



radicle short superior. — Scandent or sarmcntose shrubs ; leaves oppo- 

 site, simple, shortly petiolate ; stipules caducous ; flowers in axillary 

 or oftener terminal more or less compound ramified cymifcrous 

 racemes. [Nortli-Eustern South America). — See p. 97.) 



7. Lightia Sciigmb. — Flowers irregular ; receptacle widely 

 concave obconical. Sepals 5, unequal, imbricate. Petals 3, inserted 

 with calyx at margin of receptacle, unguiculate, widely obovate- 

 obcordate, convolute-imbricated. Fertile stamens 4, of which two 

 are larger, and sterile ones 2-6, minute, all 1-adelphous at base; 

 anthers fertile, oblong, iutrorsely 2-rimose. Germen inwardly 

 adnate to sub-oblique receptacle, densely araneose, 3-locular ; style 

 elongate slender, capitellate, truncate or S-lobulate stigmatiferous at 

 apex ; ovules in cells 2 ; one descendent ; micropyle extrorse. Cap- 

 sule oblong rouiided, 3-locular, septicidal ; horny endocarp of valves 

 separating from exocarp ; seeds ... ? — Trees or shrubs ; twigs 

 hii-sute or tomentose ; leaves alternate, entire petiolate ; stipules 

 minute, deciduous ; flowers racemose ; pedicels bracteate at base. 

 (Jmason regions of Guiana). — Sec p. 99. 



