188 A FLORA OP MANILA 



cm long, dense, cylindric, about 1 cm in diameter, each bract subtending 

 several flowers. Flowers white, 4 mm long. 



In open wet or damp places, occasional, fl. most of the year; throughout 

 the Philippines. Tropical Asia and Africa, Malaya. 



2. ANTIGONON Endlicher 



Climbing, somewhat woody vines from thickened roots, with alternate, 

 cordate leaves and somewhat stem-clasping petioles. Panicles axillary or 

 terminal, the rachis extended as a tendril. Flowers perfect, white to deep- 

 pink. Perianth 5-parted, persistent and somewhat enlarged in fruit, the 

 outer' 3 lobes larger than the inner 2. Stamens 7 or 8, filaments connate 

 at the base. Ovary 3-angled. Nut 3-angled, smooth, enclosed by the 

 persistent calyx-lobes. 



Species 3 or 4 in Mexico and Central America, 1 now widely cultivated in 

 tropkal countries, intipduced and. ejrtensively cultivated here. 



Care u./</i'»->^ /e&/«r^i*5 Cft^cA') ,4ZtAn/CCK' 

 *1J A. LEPTOPUS Hook &< Arn.') Cadena de amor (Sp.). </■ 



A scandent, somewhat woody, perennial vine from thickened tuberous 

 roots, reaching a height of 10 m. Leaves ovate to oblong-ovate, 6 to 

 14 cm long, prominently reticulate, base deeply cordate, the lobes usually 

 overlapping. Inflorescence terminal and in the upper axils, of paniculate 

 racemes, the rachises of the racemes produced as tendrils. Flowers nu- 

 merous, pale- to deep-pink, sometimes white, about 1 cm long, fascicled, 

 secund, the perianth lobes somewhat enlarged, persistent, loosely surround- 

 ing the ovoid 1 cm long fruit. (Fl. Filip. pi. i6S, A. eordatum.) 



Very commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes, fl. all the year. A 

 native of Mexico, now cultivated in many tropical countries. 



3. MUEHELENBECKIA Meissner 



Erect shrubs with flattened striate branches and much-reduced leaves 

 (in our species) , the sheaths reduced to transverse lines, making the branches 

 appear jointed. Flowers small, dioecious or polygamo-dioecious, fascicled 

 at the joints. Perianth deeply subequally 5-lobed. Stamens usually 8. 

 Ovary 3-angled. ' Nut obtusely or acutely 3-angled, small, enclosed by the 

 perianth. (In honor of H. G. Muehelenbeck, an Alsatian botanist.) 



Species 15, Australia, Polynesia, South America and Mexico, 1 introduced 

 in the Philippines. 



1. M. PLATYCLADA Meissn. 



An erect glabrous shrub 1 to 3 m high. Branches green, flattened, 

 striate, 5 to 13 mm wide, the joints 5 to 20 mm long, bearing at the nodes 

 few, reduced, lanceolate leaves 4 to 20 mm long, or the leaves nearly or 

 quite wanting. Flowers whitish, small, about 2 mm long, fascicled, rarely 

 solitary, alternating at the nodes. (PI. Filip. pj. S17, 'Exocarpus ceramica.) 



Occasionally cultivated, fl. all the year. A native of the Solomon Islands, 

 now widely distributed in cultivation, introduced here and now naturalized 

 in some localities. 



43. CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT OR ApoSOTIS FAMILY) 



Herbs or shrubs with simple alternate leaves. Flowers perfect or 

 unisexual, small, usually regular. Calyx of 3 to 5 free or connate sepals. 

 Petals none. Stamens usually 5, opposite the sepals, perigynous or hypogy- 

 nous. Ovary superior, 1-celIed, 1-ovuled; stigmas 2 to 4. Fruit usually 

 a utricle enclosed by the calyx. 



