332 TJRTiCEiE. \PouzoUia. 



long. Flowers in small sessile clusters, the males and females mixed. Male 

 perianth 4-merous or rarely 5-merous. Female fruiting perianth about 1 line 

 long, 2 of the ribs often more raised than the others, but scarcely mnged. 

 Nut ovoid, pointed, shining, black at the base or altogether when ripe. 



Hongkong, Wright. Widely distritnted over India, from Ceylon and the Feninsnla to 

 the Archipelago, and northward to the Philippines and S. China. A most variable plant, as 

 will be seen by the numerous figures of Wight, Ic., referred here by Weddell. The Hongkong 

 specimens, belonging to var. vulgaris procumben3,'WedA., very mnch resemble the European 

 Farietaria officinalis in aspect. 



9. MEMOKIAIiIS, Ham. 



Inflorescence and flowers of Pouzohia, except that the male perianth-seg- 

 ments have on the back a transverse angle or fold forming a ring round the 

 perianth. — Herbs or undershi-ubs. Leaves entire, opposite, or the uppermost 

 alternate, 3 -nerved, the lateral nerves undivided and continuing to near the 

 summit of the leaf 



A tropical genus limited to the Old World, and might be well considered as a subgenus 

 of Pouzolsia. 



1. M. hispida. Ham.; Wedd.Mon. TJrt. 426. A decumbent or erect 

 usually pubescent herb, flowering the first year, but forming a perennial rhi- 

 zome. Stems 1 to 2 ft. Leaves aU opposite, rarely in threes, nearly sessile, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, 1 to 2 in. long. Flower-clusters loose, axillary. Male 

 flowers usually numerous, 5-merous, nearly 1 line long. Females few, in the 

 same clusters. Fruiting perianth with the ribs all equal, or 2 or 4 expanded 

 into wings. Nut black.— PoMJoZma hispida, Benn. ; Benth. in Kew. Journ. 

 Bot. vi. 73. See also the various forms figured in Wight, Ic., referred to this 

 species by WeddeU. 



In shady places, OAampion, Hance, Wright. In the hilly districts of India, from Ceylon 

 and the Peninsula to the Himalaya, Ehasia, Silhet, and the Archipelago. 



10. VILLEBBXTNEA, Blume. 

 (Morocarpus, Siel. and Zucc.) 



Flowers dioecious, in little axillary or lateral capitate clusters, which are 

 either sessile or on clustered or soKtary peduncles. Male perianth of 3 or 4 

 segments, valvate in the bud. Stamens as many. Female perianth adnate 

 to the ovary, 4-. or 5-toothed. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 erect ovule. Stigma 

 disk-shaped, cihate. Fruit small and seed-like, adhering to the somewhat 

 succulent perianth. Seed albuminous.— Shrubs or undershrubs. Leaves al- 

 ternate. 



A small genus confined to eastern tropical or subtropical Asia. 



1. V. frutescens, Blume; Wedd.Mon. ?7>-if. 455. An erect imdershrub, 

 pubescent or nearly glabrous. Leaves ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, acu- 

 minate, toothed, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 in. long, varying from nearly glabrous to 

 pubescent above, and ashy-white with soft hairs underneath. mL clusters 

 nearly sessde the flowers always 3-meroas. Female heads veiy shortly pedi- 

 cellate, with 8 to 12 minute flowers ; the frmting perianth not attaining'^ line 

 —Morocarpus microcep/ialus, Benth. in Kew Journ. Bot. vi. 74. 



