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CASSYTHA FILIFORMIS. 
Filiform Cassytha. 
ENEANDRIA MONOGYNIA.—Nat. Onv. LAURINEE. 
Gen. Cuar.—Perianthium sexfidum, tubo brevissimo, limbo laciniis tribus 
exterioribus nanis. Stamina duodecim, duplice ordine, interiorum tria 
laciniis interioribus opposita sterilia ; tria reliqua basi biglandulosa. 
Anthere biloculares. Pericarpium tectum tubo perianthii aucto, baccato, 
apice pervio, laciniisque coronatum: 
Suffrutices vel Herbe aphylle, volubiles, parasitice. Flores spicati, tribrac- 
teati, bracteis parvis persistentibus.—Br. 
Cassytha jiliformis; caulibus glabris pedunculis pubescentibus pauci- 
floris. 
C. filiformis, Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 530.—Witxp. Sp. Pl. v. ii. p. 487. 
Plant with very much the habit of’ a Cuscuta ; the stems filiform, climbing 
and twisting around other plants, and around itself, scarcely branched, 
quite glabrous, deriving nourishment from the individual to which it is 
attached by means of a few small:roots or suckers ; entirely destitute of 
leaves. 
‘Peduncles distantly placed, alternate, generally broader upwards, with two 
or three minute scales at the base, and a few remote flowers. Bracteas of 
three minute roundish scales, closely appressed to the base of the pe- 
rianth, and alternating with its outer segments, the edges slightly ci- 
liated. Perianth of one piece, at first not apparently tubular at the base, 
deeply divided into six segments, three outer and three inner; the 
former very small, much resembling in shape, and scarcely exceeding 
in length, the bracteas ; ciliated at the margin, appressed to the inner 
segments: inner ones much longer, ovate, concave, fleshy. Stamens 
twelve, in two rows: the six outer ones the largest, but alternately 
smaller (the smaller ones opposite to the petals), their anthers opening 
inwards: inner ones placed face to face with the outer; of these, three 
alternate are perfect, but less than the smaller ones of the external row, 
their anthers opening externally, and having a pair of small glands at 
their base, one on each side, the three remaining ones very minute, abor- 
tive. Filaments clavate, compressed. Anthers.of two distinct cells, im- 
bedded in the substance of the filaments, and opening with valves, as 
in the genera Laurus and Berberis.. Germen ovato-globose. Style ta- 
pering. Stigma obtuse. 
Fruit a whitish Drupe, the fleshy coat being formed by the thickened and 
much enlarged tube of the perianth ; having at its base the three mi- 
VOL. It. 
