BYTTNERIACE^. 87 



Plate 135. 



HERMANNIA, Tourn. 



Calyx 5-fidus. Petala obovato-spathulata, nnguibus sse- 

 pius iiivolutis. Stamina 5, petalis opposita ; filamentis dila- 

 tatis planis, basi moiiadelphis ; aiithera? loculis acuminatis. 

 Ovarium stipitatum, 5-loculare ; loculis multiovulatis. Cap- 

 sula loculicide 5-valvis. Semina plurima, reniformia. Em- 

 bryo arcuatus. 



Hermannia, Tourn. Inst. t. 432. Dill. Elth. t. 147. Linn. Gen. 628. 

 Juss. Gen. p. 289. Cav. Diss. 6. t. 177-182. DC. Prodr. 1. p. 

 493. Endl. Gen. 5340. 



Calyx five-cleft, persistent, often vesiculose-inflated in 

 fruit ; the segments valvate in asstivation. Petals 5, con- 

 volute in aestivation, alternate with the segments of the 

 calyx, spathulate or obovate, erect-spreading, hypogynous, 

 deciduous, the usually dilated claw with involute or convo- 

 lute margins. Stamens 5, opposite the petals and shorter 

 than they, hypogynous : filaments flat and dilated, mona- 

 delphous at the base around the stipe of the ovary into a 

 ring which is adnate to the very base of the claws of the 

 petals: anthers extrorse, connivent, sagittate, two-celled; 

 the cells acuminate and often tipped with a minute gland, 

 opening longitudinally for the whole length. Ovary stipi- 

 tate, five-celled, the cells (at least in the American species) 

 opposite the sepals : styles more or less distinct, or united 

 into one, introrsely stigmatose at the apex. Ovules numer- 

 ous in two series from the inner angle of each cell, anatro- 

 pous or amphitropous, ascending or horizontal. 



Capsule coriaceous or nearly membranaceous, usually five- 

 lobed, five-celled, loculicidal, the dissepiments adhering to 

 the middle of the valves. Seeds several or numerous in 

 each cell, reniform : the testa coriaceous or crustaceous. often 



