Phebalium.] XIV. EUTACEAE. 85 



their base or by the capitate stigma only ; ovules 3 in each cell. Fruit cap- 

 sular, separating into 3-valve(i or rarely indehiscent cocci, the outer coat sepa- 

 rating from the inner ; rarely a berry or drupe. Seeds 1 in each cell ; testa 

 usually crustaceous and often shining ; endosperm copious or ; embryo large, 

 radicle superior. Shrubs or trees, rarely herbs, with simple or compound 

 exstipulate, pellucid-dotted leaves, affording a pungent aromatic volatile oil. 



A large order, distributed through the tropical and warm temperate regions; especially 

 plentiful in South Africa and Australia. Geneba, 78. Spboibs, about 700. 



1. Phebalium. Flowers 5-merous. Leaves simple ; petiole terete. 



2. Mblicopb. Flowers 4-merous. Leaves 3-foliolate, or, if simple, with winged petioles. 



1. PHEBALIUM, Vent. 



Calyx small, 5-lobed or -parted. Petals 5, valvate or laterally imbricate, 

 with valvate inflexed tips. Stamens 10, longer or shorter than the petals ; 

 filaments filiform, glabrous. Carpels 2-5, separating nearly to the base. Style 

 simple, springing from the centre of the lobes ; stigma snlall, capitate. Ovules 

 2 in each cell^ superposed. Cocci 3-valved, 1-seeded, usually more or less 

 beaked or truncate. Endocarp cartilaginous and separating elastically. Testa 

 black, shining. Shrubs, with alternate simple entire or sligbtly toothed leaves, 

 usually with axillary or terminal corymbs. 



The genus comprises 28 species restricted to Australia, and 1 in New Zealand. 



1. P. nudum, Hook., Ic. PL t. 568. A glabrous much-branched shrub, 

 4ft.— 10ft. high, with slender branehlets, red bark, and alternate spreading or 

 ascending leaves. Leaves lin.— l|in. long, linear- oblong or narrow - oblong- 

 lanceolate, blunt, obscurely crenate, coriaceous, dotted beneath. Flowers 

 whitish, in terminal much-branched corymbs; pedicels short. Calyx small, 

 5-toothed. Petals 5. Cocci compressed, wrinkled, splitting into 2 valves. — 

 Raoul, Enum. PI. Nov. Zel. 48; Hook, f., Fl. N.Z. i. 44; Handbk. 39. 



NOETH Island : Kaitaia southward to the Thames Goldfield ; Great Barrier Island. Sea- 

 level to 2,500ft. Mairehau. Nov., Dec. 



Endemic. Closely related to P. elatius, F. Mueller, of Queensland. 



2. MELICOPE, Forst. 

 Flowers regular, perfect or unisexual. Sepals 4. Petals 4, valvate or 

 slightly imbricate with inflexed tips. Stamens 8 ; filaments subulate. Ovary 

 of 4 carpels separating nearly to the base, 2-ovuled; styles (in the New Zea- 

 land species) simple, capitate, 4-lobed. Cocci 1-4, 1-seeded, spreading, free, 

 2-valved, the outer coat separating from the inner. Testa crustaceous, shining; 

 endosperm fleshy; embryo straight or slightly curved. Shrubs, or rarely trees, 

 with opposite 3-foliolate or simple pellucid dotted leaves and terminal axillary 

 cymes of rather small flowers. 



Btym. Prom the Greek, in reference to the lobed glands around the ovary. 



Species, about 15, of which 2 aue endemic in New Zealand, 3 in Australia, and the remainder 

 in the Pacific islands. 



