Gnctum] CXIII. GXETACE.E 687 



■2. GNETUM, Linn.; Fl. Brit. Iud. v. 641. 



{Lotsy, Life history of Gnetum in Aunales du Jardin Botanique de Buiten- 



zorg, xvi. 40, 1899.) 



Climbing, one species erect, branches jointed and thickened at the nodes. 

 L. opposite, quite entire, penniuerved. Fl. unisexual, usually dioecious, 

 whorled in the axils of a cup-shaped bract, usually surrounded with multi- 

 cellular hairs (a belt of (always ?) imperfect $ fl. frequently above the ring of 

 (J fl.), on spikes, which are solitary or in dichotomous panicles, axillary or 

 terminal. Male fl. : perianth fleshy, clavate, more or less 2-fid. ; anther-cells 

 2, opening by terminal slits. Female fl. : one ovule with a single integument, 

 prolonged into a tube, which has the functions of a style, with a lacerate 

 mouth, enclosed in two bags, which ma}- be regarded as an inner and outer 

 perianth, the inner perianth wanting in flowers that remain sterile. Fruit 

 resembling a drupe, consisting of the flesh)- perianths, enclosing a hard seed. 

 Species 15, tropical Asia, Africa, America and Pacific islands. 



Fij 2' m>. — Gin'tuiii -icnndens, Btoxb. J. 



A. Ovary and fruit sessile. 



1. O. Onemon, Linn.— Syn. O. Brunonianum, Griff. Caohar. Manipur. Mogaun'g, 

 Upper Burma. Tenasserim. Nicobars tfalaj Penins and Arohip. A small or 



I'll'; -' •■■'! iivci-riwii i iv,.. |. <'li >n gate-elliptio or elliptic-obloi inate, blade I B, 



i" ! ■ ' In. long. PI. dioeoious, female and pseudo androgynous spikiv- •■n diUi-ivm trees, 

 the imperfeol female il. oi the latter without, an inner perianth, I'r. oblong, apiculate, 



i" long, glossy , orang I ■ed or red when ripe. The tr ultivatedin thevil 



groves "i Java is dioecious. A rding to ELorsten and IJotsy the ■ B. in the 



psendo-andri ;ynous spikes, though often attaining a considerable sice, are nol ferti- 

 lised, and do nol produce mature b 1 h is, however, for Inquiry whether the 



B ii and Indian tree Is oot, as stated bj Kurz, monoecious. '_'. 0. neglectum. 



Blume. Blergui. Malay Penins. and Axchip, A climber, I. rigidly coriaceous, blade 

 i i, pet. | j in. long. 



