722 



CCXIV. SANTALACE^. 



Mysodendron. 

 Leaf and <? flowers. 



Mysodendron, 

 Androecium (ma^.)* 



Mysodendron. 

 Embryo (mag.). 



Mysodendron. 



Seed cat, showing 



at the top a portion 



of the placeuta 



■with an ahortive 



OTOle (mag.)* 



Mysodendron forms a group intermediate between Loranthacew and Santalacew. 

 They are small dicecious parasitic shrubs, from antarctic America, liviag especially 

 upon Beech. Characters : Flowees $ : Perianth 0. Stamens in the axil of a bract ; 

 anthers 1- celled, opening at the top by a transverse slit. — Flowees 9 : Peeianth 

 superior, entire, and contracted. Ovart inferior [trigonous], with feathery setae 

 rising from the base [from slits at the 3 angles], 1 -celled ; placenta cylindric, sur- 

 mounted by 3 naked pendulous ovules. [Feuit ovoid, 3-gonous, 1-ceUed, 1-seeded. 

 Seed pendulous from the top of the placental column, which bears the 2 arrested 

 ovules at its summit, obovoid ; testa membranous ; albumen fleshy. Embeto apical ; 

 cotyledons obscure] ; radicle superior, [apex discoid, exserted]. The plumose bristles 

 which escape from the three longitudinal slits at the angles of the ovary of Myso- 

 dendron, by twining round the branches of trees to which the fruit is wafted, fulfil 

 the fonctions of the viscous substance enclosed in the fruits of Loranthus and Viscum. 

 M. punctulatum is so abundant on the Beeches of Tierra del Fuego that it may be 

 recognized at a distance by its yellow colour, which contrasts with the dark green of 

 the trees on which it "parasitically lives. 



CCXIV. SANTALACEW, Br. 



Flowees usually 5 . Peeianth single. Stamens equal and opposite to the 

 perianth-lobes. Ovaet inferior, or adherent by the base only, 1-celled ; ovules 2-3-5 

 reduced to the nucleus, pendulous from the top of a central free placenta. Feuit dry or 

 ■fleshy, 1-seeded. Albumen fleshy. Embryo straight, axile ; radicle superior. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees, often (always?) parasitic on the roots or branches 

 (Henslovia) of other plants ; branches frequently angular. Leaves usually alternate 

 sometimes opposite, entire, penninerved, or with 8-5 lateral oblique nerves, usually 



