BUBIACEM 



273 



Smniltonia (Zeptodermis) 

 lameolata. 



cells is reduced to one, in another genus, ordinarily placed in a 

 distinct group, Hamiltonia, the number of ovarian cells becomes equal 

 to that of the divisions' of the corolla, to which they are superposed. 

 The flowers of Hamiltonia are otherwise those of Serissa, the lobes 

 of the corolla bemg valvate or induplicate. The style is divided 

 into five stiginatiferous branches. The 

 ovarian cells enclose each an ovule in- 

 serted quite- at the base of the internal 

 angle, with the micropyle inferior and 

 exterior, and the fruit opens in five 

 valves which, separating from top to 

 bottom, expose each a sort of reticulated 

 sac enveloping the seed. They are 

 Asiatic shrubs with opposite leaves, 

 foetid odour and flowers in terminal 

 cymes, sometimes very singular. Those 

 distinguished under the generic name 

 of Leptodermis, have the style deeply 

 divided in strips ; and the reticulated 

 sac which covers the seed remains en- 

 tire, whilst in Hamiltonia proper, it 



opens in three nearly regular valves at the base. The pannels of the 

 capsule are here detached only in the upper portion, whilst in 

 Leptodeiinis they separate from the base (fig. 246, 247). 



Beside the preceding has been placed, with some doubt. Pseudo- 

 pyxis depressa, a small Japanese herb, in the flowers of which aU the 

 verticils are ordinarily pentamerous and the inferior ovary is sur- 

 mounted by a cupule lined with a glandular disk. At the margin of 

 the latter are inserted the perianth of five lanceolate sepals, and a 

 funnel-shaped corolla with five pointed valvate lobes. In each ovarian 

 cell is an ovule with micropyle exterior and inferior ; and the style, 

 very long and slender, divides into five stigmatiferous branches. The 

 fruit is said to consist of five indehiscent cocci. The flowers are 

 terminal or axillary, and most frequently solitary. 



Pcederia has, also given name to a separate tribe (Feeder iece), but 

 with us, like Operculariece, form only a subseries of the Anthospermece. 

 In Pcederia proper (fig. 248-250), from tropical Asia and Africa, the 

 fiowers, hermaphrodite or polygamous, 4-6-merous, have a calyx 

 with divisions more or less deep, often refiexed at the summit ; a 



VOL. VII. T 



Fig. 246. Portion 

 of fruit, Bur- 

 mounted by 

 tte calyx. 



Fig. 247. Peed 

 smrounded by 

 reticulated sao 

 oftheendocarp. 



