262 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Australia and Africa. Their organs of vegetation are generally much 

 like those of Rubia. 



II. SPERMACOCE SERIES. 



In Spermacoce^ (fig. 233, 236), the flowers, hermaphrodite or 

 more rarely polygamous, have a receptacle in the form of an ovoid or 

 obconical sac, lodging in its cavity the ovary surmounted by a disk 



Spermacoee {Sorreria,) Poai/a. 



Fig. 235. Inflorescence. 



Kg. 236. Long. sect, of flower (f). 



more or less thick, sometimes nil or nearly so. The margin of the 

 sac supports a calyx of 2-6 divisions, very variable in form and 

 appearance, with a variable number of small tongues interposed,^ and 

 a regular gamopetalous corolla,' funnel-shaped or hypocrateriform. 



1 Xi. fffB n. 110.— J. Gen. 197.— Gr.S!:iiTN. 

 Fruct. i. t. 25.— Lamk. III. t. 62. — DO. Frodr. 

 iv. 552.— KiCH. Sub. 70, t. 4, fig. 2, 3.— Endl. 

 Gen. n. 3121.— B. H. Gen. ii. 145, n. 319.— 

 Baker, Fl. Maurit. 158.— Hook. Fl. lad. iii. 199. 

 — ? Tardavel Adans. Fam. del PI. ii. 145 (ex 

 Endl.). — Govelia Neck. Flem. n. 339. — Cheno- 

 erirpus Neck. Elem. n. ZZ^.—Bigelovla Spreng. 



Syst. i. 366.— ion-eWa Gr. F. Met. Prim. Fit 

 Essequeh. 79, 1. 1.— Endl. (?e».n. Z\20.—Chloro~ 

 phytum PoHL (ex Endl.) . — ? Gruhlmannia Nbck, 

 Flem. u. 338 (ex Endl.).— ressiera DC, Prodr. 

 iv. 574. — Diphragmus Prese, £ot. Bern. 80. 



^ Several of which are prohahly of stipular 

 niture. 



^ White, pinkr yellow or bluish, violet. 



