{jfnetum] 



CXIII. ONETACEJ] 



687 



2. GNETUM, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. v. 641. 



<Lotsy^ Life history of Gnetnm in Annales dii Jardin Botanique de Bniten- 



zorg, xvi. 46, 1899.) 



Climbing, one species erect, branches jointed and thickened at the nodes. 

 L. opposite, quite entire, penninerved. M. unisexual, usually dioecious, 

 whorled in the axils of a cup-shaped bract, usually surrounded with multi- 

 cellular hairs (a belt of (always ?) imperfect $ fl. frequently above the ring of 

 S fl.), on spikes, which are solitary or in dichotomous panicles, axillary or 

 terminal. Male fl. : perianth fleshy, clavate, more or less 2-fid. ; anther-cells 

 2, opening by terminal slits. Female fl. : one ovule with a single integument, 

 prolonged into a tube, which has the functions of a style, with a lacerate 

 mouth, enclosed in two bags, which may be regarded as an inner and outer 

 perianth, the inner perianth wanting in flowers that remain sterile. Fruit 

 resembling a drupe, consisting of the fleshy perianths, enclosing a hai'd seed. 

 Species 15, tropical Asia, Africa, America and Pacific islands. 



Fig. 200.- 



-G-netum scandeas, Eoxb. J, 



A. Ovary and fruit sessile. 



1. a anemon, Linn.— Syn. Q, Brunonlanum, G-riff. Cachar. Manipiir. Mogaung, 

 Upper Burma. Tenasserim. Nicobars.--Malay Penins. and Archip. A small or 

 middJe-sized evergreen tree, 1. elongate-elliptic or elliptic-oblong, acuminate, blade 4-8, 

 pet. J in. long. PL dioecious, female and pseudo-androgynous spikes on different trees, 

 the imperfect female fl. of the latter without an inner perianth. ¥t, oblong, apiculate, 

 i in, long, glossy, orange-coloured or red when ripe. The tree cultivated in the village 

 groves of Java is dioecious. According to Karsten and Lotsy the ? fl. in the' 

 pseudo-androgynous spikes, though often attaining a considerable size, are not ferti- 

 lized, and do not produce mature seed. It is, however, for inquiry whether the 

 Burma and Indian tree is not, as stated by Kurz, monoecious. 2. G. neglectum, 

 Blume. Mergui.— Malay Penins. and Archip. A climber, 1. rigidly coriaceous, blade 

 4-5, pet. J-J in. long. 



