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DIDYMOCARPUS Rexii. 
Twisted-fruited Didymocarpus. 
DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA.— Nat. Ord. CYRTANDACEM, J(wk. 
Gen. Char. — Cal. 5-fidus. Cor. infundibuliformis, limbo quinquelobo sub- 
irregulari. Stam. duo, plerumque abortiva. Capsula siliquiformis, 
pseudo-quadrilocularis, bivalvis: valvis medio placentiferis, placentis 
bilamellatis, lamellis revolutis, margine intus seminiferis. 
Didymocarpus Rexli ; acaulis pubescens, foliis oblongis basi ovatis ob- 
tuse serratis, scapo unifloro bibracteato, capsula spiraliter torta. 
Didymocarpus Rexii, Bowie, MS. 
Perennial, stemless. From the top of the fibrous root spring from 4-7 ob- 
long or somewhat obovate, pubescent leaves, 3-6 inches long, taper- 
ing gradually into a sort of footstalk at the base, often much more so than 
is represented in the figure, the surface wrinkled and veiny, the imder 
side paler, and the veins more prominent. 
From the centre of the leaves arise from 2 to 5 single-flowered scapes, bear- 
ing two small bracteae above the middle. Calyx 5-partite, the segments 
lanceolate, short. Corolla 2 or 2^ inches long, infundibuliform, of a de- 
licate purplish-blue colour, externally almost white and downy, the tube 
a little ventricose upwards on the under side : the limb 5-lobed, the 
2 upper lobes the smaller, each with 3 obscure lines, the 3 lower each with 
3 deep purple lines. Stamens inserted near the centre of the tube, the 
two lateral ones abortive, sometimes altogether wanting, the central ones 
with curved, whitish filaments, the anthers 2-lobed, joined together. 
Pistil: Germen linear, downy, purplish: style filiform, white, as well as 
the bilamellated, downy stigma. Capsule 4-5 inches long, siliquiform, 
terminated by the withered style and stigma, 2-valved, the valves cu- 
riously twisted spirally, and when ripe separated from the seminal re- 
ceptacles or placentae, which had previously occupied the centre of each 
valve. These receptacles divide into two lamellae, which are recurved, 
or rather revolute, bearing the seeds pendent, and attached to the inner 
margin of each lamellae. Before the capsule is quite ripe, the receptacles 
are so placed (see Fig. 5.) as to appear to divide the capsule into four 
cells ; but unless the early and imperfect cohesion of the two opposite 
plates of the receptacle can be considered as forming 2 cells, the cap- 
sule is really only 1 -celled, as in other Didymocarpi 1 have examined 
from the East Indies. Seeds oblong, brown, very minute, slightly atte- 
nuated at each extremity. 
VOL. III. 
