BIXACEÆ. 285 
same in number as the petals to which they are superposed. They 
are slightly perigynous, but are inserted lower and more internally 
than the petals. Their filaments are free, and their anthers 2-celled, 
extrorse, dehiscing by two longitudinal clefts. The gynæceum is 
free, composed of a l-celled ovary, surmounted by from three to 
six linear styles, stigmatiferous towards the summit. There are 
an equal number of parietal placentas, alternating with the styles 
and supporting numerous ovules, arranged in several ranks. The 
fruit, accompanied at its base by the persistent perianth, is a pluri- 
valved and polyspermous capsule. ‘The seeds, inserted upon the 
middle of each valve, are covered with cottonous threads, and con- 
tain under their coats a fleshy albumen, surrounding an embryo 
with cylindrical superior radicle and nearly oval foliaceous coty- 
ledons. 
Calantica consists of trees from the Mascareign Isles. In the two 
known species' the leaves are alternate, simple, petiolate, accom- 
panied by two lateral stipules. The teeth of the limb are glandular. 
The flowers are disposed in ramified clusters of cymes, and accom- 
panied by setaceous bracts and bractlets. 
Under the name of Bivinia Jalbert’ is distinguished an apetalous 
Calantica, the stamens of which, instead of being solitary, are 
grouped in bundles placed before each petal, so that their total 
number is fifty or sixty. This is a shrub of the Eastern Isles of 
tropical Africa, whose organs of vegetation and fruit are nearly 
the same as those of Ca/antica, and the inflorescence axillary. 
Beside Calantica are placed Dissomeria and Asteropeia, which have 
nearly the same receptacle. The former has a double corolla and 
numerous stamens ; the latter a single pentamerous corolla and from 
ten to fifteen stamens, united at their base in a short ring, and in an 
entirely free ovary, three pluriovulate placentas advancing into the 
cavity of the ovary, so as to divide it below into almost complete 
cells. 

1 DC,, Prodr., ii. 54 (Blackwellia).—VENt., 2 Tux, in Ann. Sc. Nat., sér. 4, viii. 78.— 
Choix de Pl, Jard. Cels. (1803), t. 56(Black- B.H., Gen., 800, n. 13.—Masr., in Oliv. Fl. 
wellia). Trop. Afr., ii. 496. 
