Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon. 347 



that order, or although it possesses in common with them a 

 valvate calyx, and fimbriated corolla, it has anthers which 

 dehisce longitudinally, and a dry baccate indehiscent fruit. 

 There is a genus, however, which has been placed dubiously 

 in Elceocarpece, to which it bears a very great resemblance 

 in the structure of its fruit. It is Friesia of DC, which 

 consists of trees, natives of Van Dieman's Land and New 

 Zealand. The principal differences which exist between 

 that genus and Anstrutheria is the mode by which the 

 anthers dehisce, and the position of the ovules ; those of 

 Friesia being superposed, while in the other they are col- 

 lateral. They both agree in having opposite leaves. 



Obs. II. — The order Elceocarpece is divided by End- 

 licher into two tribes, the first of which contains those ge- 

 nera which possess drupaceous fruit, while those which have 

 it capsular belong to the second. If a third be established 

 for Friesia and Anstrutheria , in which the fruit is baccate, 

 there will be a regularly graduated scale of carpological 

 structure in the family. The three tribes may stand thus : 



Ord. Nat. El,eocarpe,e, Juss. 



Tribus I. — ELiEOCARPEiE Ver^e. Endl. Fructus dru- 

 paceous. 



Tribus II. — Friesiece % Gardn. Fructus baccatus. 



Tribus III. — Tricuspidarece. Endl. Fructus Capsularis. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV. 



Fig. 1, Portion of a branch of Anstrutheria Ceylanica, nat. size. 

 2, Bracteoles. 3, do. and flower bud. 4, an expanded flower, 

 magnified. 5. A flower with the petals removed. 6, back and 

 front view of an anther. 7, ovary and style. 8, cross section 

 of ovary. 9, vertical do. 10, ripe fruit, nat. size. 11, a seed. 

 12, section of do. 13, embryo, all magnified. 



2 z 



