jj2 ridiits and tJicir Ways in Smif/i Afr'un 



crowning the staminal tube are considered to represent the 

 outer whorl of stamens. 



The larger flowers are much frequented by sugar-birds, 

 which sip the honey on the wing. The fact that the birds 

 seldom light on the flowers may account for the fact that these 

 obliquely hanging flowers are so nearly regular. The smaller 

 herbaceous flowers, like those of Sida, have short stamen tubes, 

 and stigmas that can curve over and help themselves to the 

 pollen which ripens with the stigmas (cf. Geraniacea; and 

 Composite). 



Order Sterculiace.v,. 



Flowers regular. Calyx lobes united, valvate. Petals 5, 

 convolute. Stamens monadelphous (sometimes merely joined at 

 the base). The outer whorl staminodial or absent. Ovary 

 superior, of r, 2, or 5 carpels. Fruit capsule, or indehiscent. 

 Flowers in cymes, with no epicalyx. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs with alternate stipulate leaves. The order is 

 closely related to Malvaces, from which it may be known by the 2-celled 

 anthers. Tluohi'oma, from which chocolate is derived, belongs to this 

 order. 



A. F/owers imperfect — petals none. 



Cola. — Staminate flowers with 10-13 sessile anthers in a 

 ring. f'istillate with a five carpelled ovary and abortive 

 stamens ; seeds numerous, ex-albuminous. Leaves entire. 



C. Nataleiisis. — (Kafir Umtenenenda, a tree in East Pondo- 

 land.) From trees on the \\'est Coast seeds are used in 

 preparing "Coco-Kola". 



StercuHa. — Calyx coloured, downy on both sides ; sta- 

 minal column bearing many scattered extrorse anthers. Car- 

 pels 5, seeds many, albuminous. 



Trees with [lalmately compound leaves, found at Uitcnhage 

 and the Transvaal. 



AA. Flowers perfect, petals present, slaminodia alternating 

 with the stamens. 



Dombeya. — A 3-lcaved, i sided, diciduous in\olucre 

 subtends the flowers. Calyx bending hack as the flowers 



