118 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



analogy -with, the preceding types, the sepals are imbricated. The 

 only species known is a tree from Ceylon, with simple, opposite or 

 verticillate leaves of which a sub-tribe {Mischodontece) has been made. 

 The genus Codiceum is more nearly connected with Aleurites than 

 the genera last mentioned by the indefinite number of its stamens 

 united upon a central receptacle, but the double perianth of the 

 flowers is imbricated, as in Jatropha, Trigonostemon, and Sagotia. It 

 consists of trees and shrubs, with simple leaves alternate or opposite, 



Eicinoearpiis piiiifolia. 



Fig. 173. Male flower (f). 



Fig. 175. Male flower, 

 without perianth. 



Fig. 174. Long. sect. 

 of male flower. 



inhabiting the warm regions of Asia and Oceania. The Ricinocar- 

 pus (fig. 173-175), which is Australian, has the same flower as cer- 

 tain species of Codiceum, but the leaves are often narrow and ericoid, 

 and the seeds have an embryo with semi-cylindrical narrow coty- 

 ledons. In this way Ricinocarpus is to Codiceum what Monotaxis is 

 to Jatropha and Tournesolia. Berti/a^ Australian like Ricinocarpus, 

 has the same organs of vegetation, embryo and central stamens 

 indefinite in number, but the flowers are apetalous, and have as an 

 envelope only a calyx often petaloid, surrounded by a calciform in- 

 volucre. Bcycria, also Australian, with the same foliage and em- 

 bryo, apetalous like Bertya, destitute of epicalyx like liicinocarpus , 

 has a peculiar style whose summit dilates into a kind of conical sur- 

 based cap crowning the ovary. In Alphandia, inhabiting New Cale- 

 donia, the leaves arts wide and membranous and the cotyledons 

 foliaceous. The flowers have, as in the preceding genera, a great 

 analogy with those of Codiceum, but the calyx is gamosepalous, quin- 

 quedentate, valvate in prsefloration, and may be unequally cut as in 

 certain species of J.fei«'«Yes (Fv., BancouUer). Cocconerion, consisting 



