484 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



ceous, small ; leaves opposite ; flowers axil- 

 lary, very minute, monoecious, naked; stamen 

 hypogynous ; filament filiform ; anther reni- 

 form, 1-celled, 2-valved ; ovary 4-comered, 

 4-celled ; ovules definite, suspended, amphi- 

 tropal ; styles two, subulate ; stigmas simple 

 points ; fruit 4-celled, 4-seeded, indehiscent ; 

 radicle superior. Inhabit still-waters in 

 Europe and North America. 



5. Family. — Scepads (Scepacese). Trees ; leaves 



alternate, stipules membranous ; flowers dioe- 

 cious ; male flowers amentaceous ; perianth 

 4-5 -leaved, imbricated; stamens 2-5 ; fila- 

 ments short, not elastic ; anthers 2-celled ; 

 female flowers in short axillary racemes ; 

 perianth of six segments in two whorls ; 

 ovary 2-celled ; style ; stigma with two 

 short emarginate lobes, or four equal fringed 

 ones ; ovules in pairs, pendulous, anatropal ; 

 fruit 2-celled, 4-valved ; radicle superior. 

 Forest trees in tropical India. 



6. Family. — Gyrostemonads (Gyrostemonacese). Trees 



or shrubs ; leaves alternate, stipulate ; male 

 flowers, perianth 6-7-lobed ; stamens inde- 

 finite, distinct ; female flowers, perianth cup- 

 shaped, 6~7-lobed ; carpels 00, round a flat 

 torus, 2-seeded ; ovules pendulous, campylo- 

 tropal; fruit of several membranous cases 

 arranged in a ring ; radicle inferior. Natives 

 of New Holland. 



7. Family. — Spurges (Bicinacese). Trees, shrubs, 



