SAPIXDACEjE. 425 



VI. HELIANTHES. 



69. Melianthus T. — Flowers hermaphrodite irregular ; Beceptacle 

 very unequally concave, posteriorly produced to a sptir. Sepals 5, 

 very unequal ; the posterior least of all, inserted far from the rest ; 

 prtefloration imbricate. Petals 5 or 4 (the anterior 1, small or defi- 

 cient), subperigynously inserted at margin of receptacle, long-clawed 

 narrow rather fleshy and oftener tomentose, near anthesis not con- 

 tiguous. Stamens 4 (the fifth posterior deficient), 2-dynamous ; 

 filaments interior to disk lining the cavity of the receptacle and pos- 

 teriorly produced to a 2-plicate crest, declinate ; 2 anterior, finally 

 shorter; the posterior sometimes connate at base by means of a 

 transverse band ; anthers introrse, 2-rimose. Germeu oblong, 4- 

 lobed ; cells 4, of which 2 are lateral ; style central incurved, stig- 

 matose at apex, shortly 4-dentate. Ovules in each cell 2-4, in- 

 serted in 2 series in the internal angle ascendent; micropyle ex- 

 trorsely inferior. Capsule papyraceous, 4-lobed ; cells 4, by abortion 

 1-spermoiis, dehiscing inwardly at apex ; seeds subglobose exaril- 

 late ; testa nitid crustaceous ; albumen copious flesliy or horny ; 

 cotyledons of small (green) embryo ovately linear ; radicle obtuse 

 incrassate at apex. — Glabrous shrubs, glaucous or cauescent (strong 

 scented) ; leaves alternate imparipiunate ; leaflets decurrent unequi- 

 lateral dentate ; stipules lateral or intra-axillary, free {Diplerisma) 

 or connate ; flowers in axillary or terminal racemes, bracteate ; 

 pedicels short bracteolate. [South Africa^ See p. 369. 



70. Bersama Feesen.' — Flowers irregular hermaphrodite or poly- 

 gamo-dioecious ; sepals 5, unequal ; the .3 superior subfree or con- 

 nate at base, imbricate ; the 2 anterior much more or nearly quite 

 connate,^ valvate. Petals 5, alternate, imbricate, subequal or un- 

 equal^; the anterior larger; claws bare or incrassately glandulose 

 within to apex. Stamens 4, 5, alternipetalous, interior to semilunar 

 posterior or sub-complete disk ; filaments all [Eubcrsama *) at base 

 1-adelphous, or the anterior ovlj [Natalia^) connate; anthers introrse, 



' Mus. Nenkenb. ii. 280, t. 17.— Endl. Oeii. n. fi{?. 24-28. 



4572 [Ampe!i(l. Z)«4.)-— B. H. Geii. 412, n. 70. ^ Hochst. Flora (1841), 663.— Pl. foe. cit. 



- " Lacinia antica apice 2-fida" (Endl.). fig.21-23; Hook. Icon. t.7S0. — Rhai/aiins E. Mey. 



^ Thick, .sericeous, white. Herb. Drèr/c. 

 * Btrsama Pl. Trims. Linn. Sue. xx. 417, t. 20, 



VOL. V. 3 I 



