JiUBIACHM 603 



XV. ADOXE^. 



203. Adoxa L.-^Flowers hermaphrodite, 4-6-merous ; receptacle 

 hemispherical enclosing adnate base of germen. Calyx perigynous, 

 inserted at margin of receptacle, 2, 3-lobed. Corolla rotate, inserted 

 with calyx ; tube short ; lobes of limb 4-6, imbricate. Stamens as 

 many,, inserted in corolla ; filaments deeply 2-fid ; each bearing half 

 an anther at apex, that is an extrorse subpeltate cell longitudinally 

 rimose. Germen inferior at base, free above and there attenuated to 

 a short thick style, presently 3-5-partite ; branches erect rather thick, 

 stigmatose at subtruncate apex. Ovules in (alternipetalous) cells 

 solitary, descending; micropyle introrsely superior. Fruit drupaceous, 

 enlarged laterally by short calyx ; pyrenes 1-5, compressed cartila- 

 ginous. Seeds in pyrenes sohtary, descending, much compressed ; 

 coat thin ; albumen hard ; radicle of minute embryo superior. — Low 

 perennial herbs (moschate) ; rhizome rather tuberous creeping, scaly ; 

 aerial branches 2-leaved; "radicle" leaves petiolate, 3-5-foliolate 

 or 2, 3-natisect; the upper 3-foliolate ; segments lobed; bottom of 

 petiole dilated to a sheath ; flowers (small) in terminal cymeSj very 

 shortly stipitate or sessile ; the terminal 4- or more rarely 5-merous ; 

 the peripherical 5- or more rarely 6-merous. {North, hemisph. old and 

 new world.) — See p. 362, 



