196 ftlALPIGIIIACEiE. 



cocci separating from each other, dehiscent down the cari- 

 nate dorsal suture, at length two-valved. Seed solitary in 

 each carpel, suspended, uncinate-rostellate at the micropyle ; 

 the smooth testa crustaceous, lined with a rather fleshy inner 

 integument. Albumen none. Embryo conduplicate ; the 

 RADICLE straight, superior, the curvature at the lower part of 

 the nearly terete cotyledons, which are incumbent on the 

 radicle. 



Shrubs, or barely suffruticose plants, usually glaucescent. 

 Leaves opposite, entire, or obscurely glandular-denticulate, 

 biglandular near the base or at the apex of the short petioles, 

 bistipulate. Stipules subulate, sometimes united at the base. 

 Flowers smooth, disposed in a terminal raceme. Pedicels 

 subtended by a small bract, articulated, bibracteolate. Co- 

 rolla yellow or orange, turning reddish with age. 



Etymology. The name is an anagram of Malpighia. 



Geographical Distribution. The genus comprises about a dozen 

 known species, of which one is a native of Brazil, but all the others are Mexi- 

 can. One nearly herbaceous species, collected in the neighbourhood of M,on- 

 terey, New Leon, by Major Eaton and Dr. Edwards (communicated by Dr. 

 Torrey), had already been detected in Texas by Mr. Lindheimer and Mr. 

 Wright. 



PLATE 173. Galphimia linifolia, n. 5;). ,• — summit of a flowering 

 stem of the natural size, from Texas, Wright. 



1. Diagram of the flower. 



2. A magnified flower, with the pedicel, bractlets (at the base), and bract. 



3. A stamen (from a bud), more magnified, inside view. 



4. Magnified pistil, with one stamen on the receptacle, the calyx cut away. 



5. Vertical section through the ovary, receptacle, and calyx ; the petals 



and two stamens in place, magnified. 



6. An ovule detached, more magnified. 



7. The tricoccous fruit and persistent calyx and stamens, magnified. 



8. A seed, magnified. 



9. One of the cocci seen from the ventral side, more magnified. 



10. Dorsal view of the same in dehiscence. 



11. A magnified seed vertically divided, shovting the two thick integu- 



ments and the embryo. 



12. One of the centrally affixed hairs (like the pubescence of the whole 



order) from the summit of the stem, much magnified. 



