120 KATURAL UISTOIIY OF PLANTS. 



Manniophyton, a native of the same country, is distinguished from 

 Crotonogyne by the gamosepalous male corolla, and the female petals 

 very slightly united at the base. In Paracroton^ from Java, the 

 flowers seem, according to the descriptions; analogous to those of the 

 preceding genera, but they have a corolla like those of Givotia^ and 

 the calyx is' imbricated. Leucocroton, consisting of shrubs from 

 Cuba, has the valvate calyx of the Garciece., with three or fovir sepals, 

 and from six to ten stamens only, surrounding a small rudiment 

 of a gyneeceum. The glands of the disk are alternate with the 

 divisions of the calyx. Pseudocroton, from Guatemala, differs from 

 Leucocfoton by the development of the corolla, its non-elevated 

 receptacle, and the large rudiment of free gynseceum in the centre 

 of the stamens. Siiregada, growing in the tropical regions of Asia, 



Australia, South and Eastern continental 

 Sungada[aeionmm)bifan»m. ^^^ insular Africa, havc nearly the same 



flower with stamens generally more nume- 

 rous ; but the calyx is imbricated, and 

 the receptacle becomes slightly glandular 

 between the stamens, while the disk of 

 the female flowers is the form of a cup. 

 The fruit, more or less fleshy, finally 

 rig. 176. Male flower (a). opens like a capsule. Elaleriospermum^ 



consisting of trees from Java and Malacca, 

 has nearly the same apetalous flowers as Suregada^ and is only 

 distinguished from it by its sub-drupaceous fruit, pulpous aril, 

 and inflorescence in corymbiform cymes. Acidocroton adelioides, 

 a thorny shrub from Cuba, similar to the preceding genera, 

 is become the type of a small group {Acidocrotoneoi) whose 

 flowers have imbricated sepals, an equal number of petals, and an 

 anther surmounted by a prolongation of the connective. This 

 plant thus seems intermediate to Jatroplia and Tournesolia on one 

 side, and on the other to Ricinella^ Avhich consists of American 

 shrubs, also often thorny, but whose calyx is valvate in both sexes, 

 and the flower apetalotis. These plants were formerly placed with 

 Bernardia^ natives of the same regions, but may be generically sepa- 

 rated from them, because the calyx is valvate in both sexes, and 

 the style branches, distinct from the base, are thrown out towards 

 the circumference of the summit of the ovary, leaving this free. 



