GELAHTRAGE^. 48 



acuminate, introrsely 2-rimose versatile (?), deciduous. Germen 

 superior free, thictened at base to a glandular disk ; style cylin- 

 drical tubular, apex divided into 5 short recurved alternipetalous 

 2-dentate laciniee extending inwards to linear stigmatiferous costa ; 

 cells 6 oppositipetalous, subincomplete at apex ; ovules 5, 6, inserted 

 in 2 series in internal angle, anatropous. Capsule terete narrow- 

 oblong, style subulate persistent apiculate, septicidally 5-valvate ; 

 valves 2-fid at apex ; epicarp thin fleshy ; endocarp ligneous. Seeds 

 1, 2, ascending, produced below to a vertical membranous wing; 

 albumen slightly fleshy; cotyledons of large axial embryo lateral 

 plane elliptical ; radicle terete inferior. — A glabrous ramose leafless 

 shrub ; branches remotely alternate terete striate produced to long 

 spines marked with squamiform bracts or their dark scars when 

 removed ; flowers in short lateral alternate pedunculate few-flowered 

 cymes ; pedicels articulate below the middle ; the fructiferous ones 

 open curved. {New Mexico}) 



II ? STACKHOUSIEiE. 



29. Staekhousia Sm. — Flowers hermaphrodite regular ; receptacle 

 concave cupular or hemispherical, lined with a thin disk. Sepals 5, , 

 inserted at margin of receptacle, unequal, imbricate. Petals 5, 

 alternate, inserted perigynously with the sepals, much longer, free at 

 base, above united in a more or less elongate tube and at the apex 

 again free and reflexed; imbricate in prefloration. Stamens 5 

 alternipetalous, inserted with the perianth; filaments free erect, 

 2 alternate shorter ; anthers oblong, introrsely 2-rimose. Germen 

 free inserted at bottom of receptacle sessile, 2-5-locular; style 

 erect, more or less deeply 2-5-fid ; branches stigmatose within. 

 Ovules in cells solitary subbasilar ascending ; micropyle extrorsely 

 inferior. Fruit 2-5-coccous ; cocci indehiscent finally dry. Smooth 

 or rugose or reticulate, sometimes with broad vertical wings; 

 mesocarp thin; putamen smooth or rugose; columella central. 

 Seeds ascending ; testa thin ; albumen fleshy ; embryo axile straight 

 nearly equal in length to the albumen; cotyledons short; radicle 

 inferior terete. — Perennial herbs ; oftener with a woody rhizome ; 

 branches herbaceous erect simple or slightly branched ; leaves alter- 



' Conoeminga genus formerly, but not rightly, referred to i?os«(!««-e«i?frie«; see Nat. msiory 

 f. Plants, i. 391, n. 6. 



