LXXXII. FEANCOACEJE. 



401 



pous, raphe dorsal. Aoheites [follicles] membranous, surrounded by the accrescent 

 calyx and stamens, detaching circularly near their persistent base, which is com- 

 posed of a simple membrane ; the upper portion composed of a double membrane, 

 thickly hairy externally, terminated by the style, and opening longitudinally. Seed 

 with a membranous loose testa, a lateral slender raphe, and an apical chalaza. 

 Embeto straight, very short, occupying the base of a fleshy oily albumen ; cotyledons 

 plano-convex ; radicle cylindric, inferior. 



ONLY GENUS. 

 * Cephalotus. 



The only species (C. foUicularis) inhabits South-west Australia. It approaches both Saxifragea and 

 Crassulacees ; as in the latter, the stamens are perigynous and double 

 the number of the petals (if an isomerous corolla be supposed to exist 

 within the calyx) ; the carpels are distinct, and the embryo is albu- 

 minous. It differs in the aestivation of its calyx, the nature and 

 abundance of its albumen, its solitary and erect ovule, the dehiscence 

 of its fruit, and its dimorphous and radical leaves. Its connection 

 with Saxifrar/ece is somewhat similar, besides which some genera of 

 Suxifrage<B, like it, are apetalous {Chrymsplenium). La Billardiere, 

 who discovered the plant in the swamps of Australia, annexed it to 

 Rosacea}, with which it has an undeniable affinity ; thus, in Cephalotus, as 

 in Dryas, Geum, &c., the stamens are perigynous, the carpels are free, 

 ■ have one erect ovule, and become achenes [rather follicles, for the dehi- 

 scence in Cephalotus is complete. — En.]; but Hosacees are exalbu- 

 minous, stipulate, polyandrous, polycarpellary, and, except in Spii-ceaj 

 the carpels are indehiscent. Finally, Cephalotus has been compared 

 with Hammculaceee, in which the carpels ai-e free, the ovule solitary 

 and erect, the albumen abundant, and the embryo small and basilar ; 

 but the polysepalism, hypogynism, polyandry, many indehiscent carpels, 

 and horny albumen, greatly limit the analogy between Rammmdacrfo 

 and Cephalotusr 



FRANCO ACE jE, Endlicher. 



Perennial hbkbs. Leaves subradical, lyrate-pinnatifid 

 or palminerved, sinuous-toothed. Plowees bracteate, in 



Francoa appei,ckculata. 



Francoa. Half ol the flower (mag.). 



Francoa. Diagram, 



