- 
NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
VI. HOMALIUM SERIES. 
The Acomas' (figs. 322-325) have regular hermaphrodite flowers. 
The receptacle has the form of a short cornet or a turbinate sac, in 
the concavity of which is inserted the lower part of the gynæceum ; 
after which the receptacle widens into a shallow cup, bearing a calyx 
or corolla upon the edges without or within. The leaves of both are 
Homalium racemosum. 

Fia. 322. 
Flower (5). 
Fia. 323. 
Longitudinal section of flower. 
variable in number, generally from five to eight. The sepals are 
valvate or slightly imbricated. The corolla is formed of a like number 
of alternate petals, often analogous to the sepals in colour and con- 
sistence, but more developed, imbricated, or contorted in præfloration. 
In certain species, such as 77. paniculatum, integrifolium, napaulense, 
become types of the genus ÆZackwellia there is in front of each 
petal a stamen, like it also inserted on the throat of the receptacle, and 
formed of a free filament and a 2-celled extrorse anther dehiscing by 
two longitudinal clefts. In /7. racemosum, on the contrary, and in a 
great many neighbouring species, there are two stamens or a bundle 
formed of a variable number of these organs in front of each petal.’ 
In all the species the alternipetalous glands are interposed to bundles 
of stamens, on a level with which they are inserted. 
The partly in- 

1 Homalium JACQ., Stirp. Amer. (1763), 173, 
t. 183, fig. 72.—J., Gen., 343, 452.—Lamk., 
Dict., i. 32; Suppl., i. 112; Z/4., t. 483.—DC., 
Prodr., ii. 53.—ENDt., Gen., n. 5086.— PAYER, 
Fam. Nat., 83.—BENTH., in Journ. Linn. Soc., 
iv. 83.—B. H., Gen., 800, n. 15 (inel.: Acoma 
Apans., <Astranthus Lour., Blackwellia J., 
Cordylanthus Bu, Lagunezia Scor., Myrian- 
theia Dvv.-Tu., Napimoga Augr., Nisa 
Noronx. (!), Pythagorea Lour., 
AUBz., Tattia Scop., Vermontea Scor.). 
2 Comm., ex J., Gen., 343.—LamK., Dict., i. 
Racoubea 
. 
428; Suppl, i....; TUL, t. 412.—DC., Prodr., 
ii. 54.—ENDL., Gen., n. 5087.—PAYER, Fam. 
Nat, 83.—Astranthus Lour., Fl. Cochinch., 
221.— Nisa Noronu., ex Dur.-TxH., Nov. Gen. 
Madag., 24.—DC., Prodr., ii. 55—ENDL., Gen., 
n. 5091.— PAYER, Fam. Nat., 82. 
3 Character of a section which formerly con- 
stituted the genus Racoubea (AUBL., Guian. 
(1775), i. 236;—Napimoga AUBL., loc. cit. 
592, t, 237; Myriantheia Dur.-TH., Gen. 
Nov. Madag., 21;—Envu., Gen., n. 5090 ;— 
Cordylanthus Bu., Mus. Lugd.-Bat., ii. 27, t.3). 
