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A V I C E N N I A. 
(Avicenne. Fr.) 
Natural Order , MropoRiNiE. (R. Brown.) Linncean Classi- 
fication , Didynamia Angiospermia. 
AVICENNIA* (Linn.) 
Calyx 5-parted, permanent, leaflets subovate, concave, erect. Corolla mono- 
petalous, with the tube short and campanulate ; the border somewhat two- 
lipped ; the upper lip truncate, flat and emarginate ; the lower trifid, the 
segments ovate, equal and flat. Stamens 4, with subulate filaments in- 
clined to the upper lip, the anterior pair shorter ; anthers roundish, 2- 
celled. Stigma bifid, acute, the lowest division reflected. Pericarp a 
coriaceous, somewhat rhomboidal, compressed capsule of 1 cell, with 2 
valves. Seed one, large, without albumen, taking the form of the cap- 
sule, the cotyledones in four broad fleshy folds, germinating while on 
the tree ; radicle inferior, bearded. 
Maritime tropical or subtropical trees with opposite entire leaves : flowers 
in small terminal and axillary panicles, with the calyx subtended by three 
bractes. A genus of 3 species chiefly indigenous to New Zealand, tropical 
India and America. 
* So named after the famous Oriental physician Avicenna. 
