174 CAPPARIDACEiE. 



reticulated valves separating from the filiform placenta?, which 

 persist as an elliptical replum. Seeds 2 or 3, usually a 

 single collateral pair, upon each placenta, pendulous on short 

 funiculi, conduplicate-campylotropous ; the crustaceous testa 

 minutely rugose. Albumen none. Embryo arcuate-condu- 

 plicate ; the thickened cotyledons incumhent upon the as- 

 cending radicle on the placental side. 



Herb annual, glabrous, with a virgate stem, usually 

 branching above, bearing alternate and exstipulate trifoliolate 

 leaves on short petioles, and terminated by a leafy raceme 

 which is elongated in fruit. Leaflets linear, entire, slightly 

 petiolulate, the upper floral ones, or bracts, simple and sessile, 

 gradually reduced to about the length of the pedicel. Flow- 

 ers small, yellow. 



Etymology. The name is a diminutive of Cleome. 



Geographical Distribution. This very distinct genus was founded 

 on a single species, indigenous to Northern Mexico, Texas, and Western 

 Arkansas. 



PLATE 75. Cleomella Mexicana, DC; — summit of a plant, of the 

 natural size, in fruit and flower ; from Texas, Lindheimer (PL 

 Lindheim. No. 10). 



1. A flower, magnified. 



2. A petal ; and 3, a sepal, more magnified. 



4. Vertical section of a magnified flower, through the torus, cutting away 



half the stamens, petals, and sepals. 



5. Transverse section of a magnified ovary, showing the ovules. 



6. A pod, enlarged, with its stipe, torus, and apex of the receptacle. 



7. The replum of the same, with the funiculi of the seeds. 



8. A seed, magnified. 



9. Vertical section of the same, cutting through the embryo. 



