PHYTOLACCACEZ. 45 
lobes, of which the two lateral are narrower and longer than the 
other two.’ More internally are found, in the male flowers, eight or 
nine stamens reduced to subsessile anthers, erect, with two lateral 
cells dehiscing by a longitudinal and marginal cleft. In the female 
flowers there is but one free gynæceum ; the ovary has two lateral 
uniovulate cells and is surmounted by a style with two thick fleshy 
branches stigmatiferous within. The ovule is ascendant with 
inferior and exterior micropyle. The fruit is dry, with two compressed 
cells separating from the central columella and opening lengthwise 
by their exterior edge to let an ascendant reniform arillate’ seed 
escape, partly surrounded by a fornicate embryo with inferior radicle. 
The Didymothecas, of which only one species is known,* are small 
suffrutescent Australian and Tasmanian plants, with slender erect 
branches, bearing alternate, simple, narrow, entire leaves,‘ accom- 
panied by two small glandular stipules. They are succeeded by 
bracts towards the summit of the branches, each presenting in its 
axil a small flower with short pedicel. The bracts have also two 
small glandular stipules’ at the base. 
R. Brown’ established in 1818 a special family for Phyfolacca and 
the neighbouring genera. Before this the greater part of the known 
genera were connected with Chenopodacee. A. L. ve Jussieu! for 
example, placed in his order of Arroches (Oraches), Phytolacca, Rivina, 
Petiveria. Moreover he placed Giseckia and Limeum among the 
Portulaccacee,* and left Seguieria in the Genera inserte sedis.2 Exv- 
LICHER™” ranged in his order of Phytlolaccacee, Seguieria, Petiveria, 
Mohlana, Rivina, Limeum, Giesekia, Phytolacca, Ercilla, also Semon- 
villea, a section of Limeum and Microtea, which ought rather to be 
1 These last are entire, or more or less un- 
equally parted into two teeth or secondary 
lobes. 
2 The aril has for starting point a thickening 
of the exostome, which is produced even before 
anthesis. (See Adansonia, x. 161.) 
3 D, thesioides Hoox, F., loc. cit. 279; Fl. 
Tasm., i. 309, t. 93.—Moa., loc. cit.,87.— BENTH., 
Fil, Austral., v.145.— D. Drummondii Moa., loc. 
cit, n.2.—D. veroniciformis F. MUELL., in 
Linnea, xxv. 438. 
* Spotted with small white specks which ap- 
pear to be cystolites. 
° Described as lateral bractlets by a great 
number of authors, but identical with the bracts 
of the leaves. 
5 Obs. Herb. Congo, 35; Mise. Works (ed. 
BENN.), i. 138 (Phytolacee). 
7 Gen. (1789), 83, Ord. 6, 
8 Op. cit., 314, Ord. 4. 
9 Op. cit., 440. 
10 Gen., 975, Ord. 208 (1840). 
