372 XXVII. STERCULIACE^. (Maxwell T. Masters.) [Pentapetes, 



A branched annual, 2-5 ft., glabrons or with a few scattered stellate hairs. Leaves 

 3-5 ia., 1-nerved, crenate-serrate ; petiole 1 in. Stipules subulate. Peduncle simple, 

 axillary, as long as or longer than the petiole, 1-2-flowered, jointed near the flower. 

 Bracteoles half the length of the calyx. Flowers red, opening at noon and closing at 

 the following dawn. Sepals stellate-hairy, with a few simple bristles. Petals obovate. 

 Style short. Capsuk suhglohose, bristly, half the length of the persistent calyx. 



10. nXEXiBANXA, Forsk. 



Undershrubs. Leaves simple, downy. Peduncles axillary, 1-flowered. 

 Bracteoles 3-5, cordate, often longer than the sepals. Flowers yellow. 

 Sepals 5, connate below. Petals 5 marcescent. Stamens 10, coDnate below 

 into a very short tube, fertile filaments 5, alternating with as many 

 Jigulate staminodes ; anther-cells parallel. Ovary sessile, S-celled, cells 1- 

 many-ovuled ; styles 5, subulate, connate below, stigmatiferous on the inner 

 face. Capsule locuIicidaUy 5-valved. Seeds albuminous ; cotyledons 

 plicate, biparted, radicle inferior. — Disteib. Species 16 distributed over 

 the hotter parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. 



* Bracteoles linear. 



1. M. Incana, Heyne in Wall. Gat. 1200 ; leaves narrow elliptic-oblong 

 serrulate, bracteoles linear-oblong shorter than the calyx, capsule sub- 

 globose shorter than the calyx. W. & A. Prodr. i. 68 ; Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. L 

 pt. 2, 191. 



Western Peniksdla ; dry hills in the Camatic and Mysore, Heyne, &o. 



Suffruticose, branches spreading. Leaves 1-2 by ^-4 in., linear-oblong, obtuse, base 

 suboordate, tomentose beneath; peduncle 1-2-flowered, as long as the petiole, jointed 

 in the middle. Flowers small. Sepals \ in., lanceolate, acuminate. Petals obovate, 

 longer than the sepals. Capsule hairy, shorter than the sepals. Seeds 2-4 in each 

 cell, tubercled. 



2. IMC. abyssinica, A. Pick. Fl. Abyss, i. 76, 1. 18 ; leaves elliptic obtuse 

 crenate-dentate pubescent above paler and tomentose beneath, bracteoles 

 linear shorter than the calyx, capsule longer than the calyx. Mast, in Oliv. 

 Fl. Trop. Mr. i. 231. Brotera ovata, Gav. Ic. v. 20, 433. Melhania ovata, 

 Boiss. Fl. Orient, i. 841, excl. syn. 



SiNDH, Stocks. — DisTRiB. Cape de Verde islands, Abyssinia. 



Suffruticose, cano-tomentose, branches prostrate intricate spreading. Leaves 1 by 

 J in., doubly-serrate ; petiole j in. Stipules J in., capillary. Peduncles axillary, as 

 long as or longer than the petiole, 2-4Tflowered. Flowers J in. diam. Bracteoles nearly 

 as long as the lanceolate sepals. Petals obovate, shorter than the sepals. Style very 

 short. Capsule slightly exceeding the 'persistent calyx. 



** Bracteoles broad, at least at the base. 



.3. SK. cannabina, Wight in Herb. Xew. ; leaves oblong obtuse cre- 

 nulate base subcordate, bracteoles lanceolate equalling the lanceolate 

 cuspidate sepals, capsule subgibbous shorter than the calyx. 



Western Peninsula ; in the Camatic and Mysore, Wight, &c. 



A shrub, herbaceous portions oano-pubescent. Leaves 24-1 i in., sub-3-nerved, paler 

 beneath; petioles 1 J in. Stipules fugacious. Cymes peduncled ; peduncles equalling 

 the petioles ; ultimate pedicels shorter than the flowers. Flowers 4 in. diam. BrcKteoles 

 striated. Capsule villous, the size of a large pea. Seeds numerous, angled, rugose. 



4. ni. Kamlltonlana, Wall. PI. Asiat Ear. i. t. 77 ; leaves roundish- 

 ovate subcordate obtuse unequally toothed, peduncles axillary twice the 

 length of the petiole, bracteoles cordate-ovate longer than the calyx 



