1410 CXVII. EUPHOEBIACE^. [Aviperea. 



Flowers nearly sessile in clusters at the nodes, the males often numerous, the 

 females solitary, either alone or surrounded by a few males. Bracts small, 

 broad, mostly fringed. Male perianth nearly 1 line long, broadly campanulate, 

 divided to the middle into 4 rarely 5 lobes. Stamens 8 rarely 10, all with 2- 

 celled anthers. Female perianth more deeply 5-lobed. Ovary crowned by 6 

 acute dorsal teeth or appendages. Styles rather short, more or less bifid. — 

 Muell. Aro-. in B.C. Prod. xv. ii. 211 ; A. Eich. Sert. Astrol. 53, t. 20; ^. ntnei- 

 funnis, F. v. M. Herb, and in Baill. Etud. Euph. 4f)5 ; Leptomerin xiphodada, 

 Sieb. in Spreng. Syst. Cur. Post 109. 



Hab.: Islands of Moreton Bay, Hcv. B. Scorteclditi, 



10. BRIDELIA, Willd. 



(After Prof. Bridel, the muscologist.) 



Flowers monoecious, in axillary clusters or solitary. Male flowers : Calyx 

 deeply divided into 5 segments, valvate in the bud, spreading when in flower. 

 Petals 5, scale-like, stipitate or spathulate, the small lamina usually broad and 

 dentate. Bisk broad, with a free entire or slightly lobed margin. Stamens 5, 

 inserted on a central column arising from the disk, the filaments spreading 

 horizontally under an abortive or lobed style which terminates the column 

 without any ovary. Anther-cells parallel, opening longitudinally. Female 

 flowers : Calyx of the males or with longer narrow segments. Bisk the same 

 but with the addition of an inner erect margin or cup closely surrounding the 

 ovary. Ovary 2-eelled or very rarely and exceptionally 3-eelled, with 2 ovules in 

 each cell. Styles distinct or connate at the base, more or less 2-lobed or nearly 

 entire. Fruit a small berry or drupe, with a succulent indehiscent epicarp, the 

 endooarp rather hard or crustaceous, separating into two indehiscent cocci or 

 pyrenes. Seeds usually solitary in each pyrene, with a longitudinal furrow on 

 the inner face ; albumen copious ; embryo nearly straight, with broad flat 

 cotyledons and a short narrow radicle. — Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, 

 petiolate, entire, with fine parallel diverging primary veins and transverse 

 veinlets prominent on both sides. Stipules small. Flowers small, sessile or 

 very shortly pedicellate, and surrounded by small scale-like bracts, the males and 

 females in the same or separate clusters. Berries or drupes small, red or black. 



The genus extends over tlie warmer regions of Asia and Africa. Of the three Queensland 

 species, one is also Asiatic, the two others are endemic. 



Whole plant glabrous. Flowers few together. Male ealjx-segments 1 line 



long. Starainal column not half so long as the filaments. Styles very short . 1, B. cvalltita. 



Young shoots and underside of the leaves tomentose-pubescent. 



Flowers in dense clusters. Female calyx about f line long 2. B. totiiciitosa. 



Flowers solitary or 2 or 3 together. Female calyx at least 1 line long . . 3. B. fiiginea. 



1. S. exaltata (tall), F. v. il/. Fraf/m. iii. 32; Bentli. Fl. AuKtr. vi. IIJT.. 

 A tree of GO to 70ft. perfectly glabrous. Leaves shortly petiolate, ovate- 

 lanceolate, acute or rather obtuse, with much more numerous primary veins than 

 in B. tomcntiim, 2 to 6in. long, somewhat glaucous underneath. Flowers few 

 together and almost sessile, the floral leaves often deciduous or abortive. Male- 

 calyx-segments above 1 line long, thin and spreading. Bisk large. Staminal 

 column very short, the filaments at least twice as long. Berries glossy brown,, 

 oval, about 8| lines, globular. Styles exceedingly short.— /i. oeata var. c.raUata^ 

 Muell. Arg. in BC. Prod. xv. ii. 495 ; Amama orata, Baill. Adans. vi. 336. 



Hab.: Brisbane River and other southern localities. 



Wood of a dark-drab color, hard and close in the grain, somewhat resembles wahiut audi 

 suitable for cabinet work. — Bailei/s Cut. Ql. Woods, Ko. 358. 



