MALVACEyE. 71 



Plate 128. 



MODIOLA, Mcench. 



Involucellum 3-phyllum persistens. Stamina 10-20. 

 Stigmata terminalia introrsum subcapitata. Fructus poly- 

 coccus ; carpellis reniformibus, dorso cuspidatis, apice 2- 

 valvibus, ab axi secedentibus, intns processu septiformi 

 transverse divisis, locellis monospermis. Radicula centri- 

 peto-infera. — Herbse humifnsas. 



MoDioLA, Mcench. Meth. p. 620. Adr. Jiiss. in St. Hil. Fl. Bras. 1. p. 



210. t. 43. Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Am. 1. p. 228. 

 Malv^ Sect. MoDioLA, DC. Prodr. 1. p. 435. 



Calyx involucellate with three foHaceous and persistent 

 bracts, five-parted, persistent ; the segments valvate in aesti- 

 vation. Petals 5, obovate, convohite in asstivation, their 

 claws united with the base of the stamineal column. Sta- 

 mens 10 to 20, monadelphous nearly to the summit in an 

 urceolate column ; the short filaments in a single series, 

 when only ten in number united in pairs so as to form five 

 forked phalanges, when more numerous with separate fila- 

 ments interposed : anthers reniform, or somewhat didymous 

 and at first two-celled. Ovaries 14 to 20, united in a ring 

 around a central receptacle, each divided in the middle by a 

 kind of transverse partition, the chambers each one-ovuled : 

 STYLES united below, subclavate : stigmas terminal but in- 

 trorse, oblong-capitate. Ovules 2 in each carpel, amphitro- 

 pous, peritropous, the micropyle of both inferior. 



Fruit a depressed ring of rather coriaceous carpels, which 

 at maturity separate from each other and from the dilated 

 central receptacle ; each strongly reniform, cuspidate on the 

 back, two-valved at the top, two-seeded, the seeds separated 

 by the valve-like process which forms a transverse partition, 

 or the upper seed sometimes abortive. Seeds reniform. 



