E UPHORBIA GE^. 



149 



Phyllanthm {Xylophylla) angustifoUm. 



or four shells, is capsular, with, a suberous mesocarp. The leaves 

 are opposite or verticil] ate. In the species of Daphinphyllum, 

 trees and shrubs from the warm regions of Asia, Oceania, and Africa, 

 doubtfully ascribed to this family, the stamens are inserted close to 

 the centre of the flower, where, in an indefinite number, they form 

 an umbelliform verticil. Their fruit is fleshy and iadehiscent, and 

 the seed encloses an embryo shorter than is usual in the Euphorbi- 

 acece. 



The species of Phyllanthus (fig. 248-253), which, give their 

 name to this series constitute the 

 oldest and most completely studied 

 genus. Formerly nearly the 

 whole of the biovular EuphorhiacecB 

 observed ia tropical countries were 

 ascribed to it. The flowers, gene- 

 rally monoecious, more rarely 

 dioecious, and always small in size, 

 have usually only three stamens, 

 more rarely four or five, and but 

 very rarely a larger number, al- 

 ways with central insertion. The 

 perianth has generally from four 

 to six imbricated sepals, with a 

 like number of alternate glands. 

 The fruit is capsular, rarely more 

 or less fleshy, with ex-carunculate 

 seeds, anatropous or descendent, 

 or sometimes almost completely 

 orthotropous and ascendent, but 

 always directing their micropyle, 

 which in the ovule was capped by 



a cellular obturator, towards the ^- ^^^^ ]^°riferous tranch. Fi|^.^250 Female 



organic summit of the cell. The 



exterior semiual coat may be thickened for the whole of its length. 

 Nothing is so variable as the organization of the androceum, the 

 extrorse anthers having the base directed downwards, and the fila- 

 ments being in certain cases completely .free (fig. 251). They may 

 be short, oblique, or nearly transverse, or well straightened, elon- 



.5? 



HI 



Fig. 249. Male 

 flower. 



1 



