330 A FLORA OF MANILA 



with 5 ligulate staminodes opposite the petals, with 3 anthers between 

 each two staminodes. Ovary within the tip of the staminal-column, 3- 

 to 5-celled; styles entire. Capsule woody or coriaceous, often large, cylin- 

 dric or angled, loculicidally 5-valved. Seeds numerous, winged at the apex. 

 (Greek "wing" and "seed.") 



Species about 20, tropical Asia and Malaya, 6 in the Philippines. . 



1. P, divepsifolium Blume. Bayoc (Tag.). 



A tree 4 to 10 m high. Leaves oblong to oblong-obovate, somewhat 

 oblique, base truncate or cordate, apex very abruptly short-acuminate, 

 15 to 25 cm long, glabrous on the upper surface, the lower surface pale 

 and densely stellate-pubescent, the leaves on young plants frequently, deeply 

 palmately lobed. Flowers axillary, sessile, solitary or in pairs, 12 to 14 cm 

 long, the buds cylindric. Calyx-lobes narrow, coriaceous, recurved, densely 

 brown-stellate-pubescent outside, inside pubescent and scaly. Petals thin, 

 white, as long as the calyx-lobes. Capsule large, oblong, woody, about l5 

 cm long, 5-angled, narrowed at the base. (Fl. Filip. pi. 182.) 



In thickets Masambong, San Juan del Monte, etc., fl. May-July; widely 

 distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya. 



7. ME LOCH I A Linnaeus 



Herbs, undershriibs, or small trees, often pubescent. Leaves simple. 

 Flowers small, in axillary heads or clusters, or panicled. Sepals connate 

 below. Petals spathulate. Stamens 5, opposite the petals, connate below 

 into atuBe. Ovary sessile, 5-celled; styles 5, free or connate at the base. 

 Capsule small, loculicidally 5-valved. 



Species about 50, warmer parts of the world, 2 in the Philippines. 



1. M. CORCHOEIPOLIA L. 



An erect or spreading, branched, suffrutescent herb usually less than 

 1 m high, with scattered stellate hairs or nearly glabrous. Leaves oblong- 

 ovate, 2 to 6 cm long, acute or acuminate, base broad, rounded or cordate, 

 5-nerved. Flowers somewhat crowded in terminal or axillary heads, in- 

 termixed with linear bracteoles. Petals obovate, white, pink, or pa.le- 

 purple, about 7 mm long. Capsule depressed-globose, 4 to 5 mm in 

 diameter, slightly hirsute. 



In open, usually damp grass lands, rather common, fl. all the year; 

 throughout the Philippine, undoubtedly introduced. Most tropical countries. 



8. WALTHERrA Linnaeus 



Herbs or undershrubs, more or less pubescent. Leaves simple, toothed. 

 Flowers yellow, in dense axillary clusters. Sepals 5, connate below. 

 Petals 5, oblong-spatulate. Stamens 5, the fllaments united into a tube. 

 Ovary sessile, 1-celled, 2-ovuled. Capsule small, 2-valved, 1-seeded. (In 

 honor of Walther.) 



Species about 15, mostly in tropical America, one a widely distributed 

 tropical weed. 



1. W. AMERICANA L. (W. indica L.). 



An erect, more or less branched, pubescent, shi-ubby or suffrutescent 

 plant 0.5 to 1.5 m high. Leaves oblong-ovate or oblong, 3.5 to 9 cm long, 

 rounded or obtuse, base rounded or subcordate, prominently nerved. Flow- 

 ers about 5 mm long, in dense, axillary, sessile or shortly • peduncled 

 fascicles. Sepals and bracts green or pale, villous. Corolla somewhat 

 exserted, yellow. 



