CELAHTRACEJE. 48 



acuminate, introrsely 2-rimose versatile (?), deciduous. Gernien 

 superior free, thickened at base to a glandular disk ; style cylin- 

 drical tubular, apex divided into 5 sbort recurved alternipetalous 

 2-dentate Iauinise extending inwards to linear stigmatiferous costa ; 

 cells 5 oppositipetalous, subincomplete at apex ; ovules 5, 6, inserted 

 in 2 series in internal angle, anatropous. Capsule terete narrow- 

 oblong, style subulate persistent apiculate, septicidally 5-valvate ; 

 valves 2-fid at apex; epicarp tbin fleshy; endocarp ligneous. Seeds 

 1, 2, ascending, produced below to a vertical membranous wing; 

 albumen slightly fleshy ; cotyledons of large axial embryo lateral 

 plane elliptical ; radicle terete inferior. — A glabrous ramose leafless 

 shrub ; branches remotely alternate terete striate produced to long 

 spines marked with squamiform bracts or their dark scars when 

 removed ; flowers in short lateral alternate pedunculate few-flowered 

 cymes ; pedicels articulate below the middle ; the fructiferous ones 

 open curved. (New Mexico. 1 ') 



II ? STACKHOUSIE.E. 



29. Stackhousia Sm. — Flowers hermaphrodite regular ; receptacle 

 concave cupular or hemispherical, lined with a thin disk. Sepals 5, 

 inserted at margin of receptacle, unequal, imbricate. Petals 5, 

 alternate, inserted perigynously with the sepals, much longer, free at 

 base, above united in a more or less elongate tube and at the apex 

 again free and reflexed ; imbricate in prefloration. Stamens 5 

 alternipetalous, inserted with the perianth ; filaments free erect, 

 2 alternate shorter; anthers oblong, introrsely 2-rimose. Germ en 

 free inserted at bottom of receptacle sessile, 2— 5-locular ; style 

 erect, more or less deeply 2— 5-fid ; branches stigmatose within. 

 Ovules in cells solitary subbasilar ascending ; micropyle extrorsely 

 inferior. Fruit 2-5-coccous ; cocci indéhiscent finally dry. Smooth 

 or rugose or reticulate, sometimes with broad vertical wings; 

 mesocarp thin ; putamen smooth or rugose ; columella central. 

 Seeds ascending ; testa tbin ; albumen fleshy ; embryo axile straight 

 nearly equal in length to the albumen ; cotyledons short ; radicle 

 inferior terete. — Perennial herbs ; oftener with a woody rhizome ; 

 branches herbaceous erect simple or slightly branched ; leaves alter- 



1 Concerning a genus formerly, but not rightly, referred to Iio&acea:- Quill jea ; see Nat. llist* nj 

 f. Plants, i. 391, n. 6. 



