Boussinyaultia.] 
CI. CHENOPODIACErE. 
1265 
oblong, obtuse, concave, patent. Stamens 5, inserted in the throat of the perianth- 
tube, filaments filiform-subulate reflexed in the bud ; anthers oblong, versatile. 
Ovary ovoid, umbonate, style straight or fiexuose, stigmatic lobes or stigmas 
clavate. Utricle included in the perianth, globose, umbonate at the apex, 
stipitate. Seeds erect, subreniform. Embryo semiannular, clavate ; albumen 
farinose ; cotyledons broad plano-convex ; radicle thick descendent. Glabrous 
twiners. Leaves alternate fleshy, entire. Flowers small, in axillary or terminal 
racemes. Bracts persistent or deciduous ; the bracteoles below the flowers adnate 
to the pedicel or caducous. 
Species about 10. Tropical America. 
1 . 23 . baselloides (Basella-like), lluinb. and Kit nth. Lambs’ Tails. 
Rhizome knotted, fleshy. Stems twining from left to right, glabrous. Leaves 
fleshy, alternate, jointed on the stem, cordate, acute, 1 to 4in. long on petioles 
of lin., compressed. Racemes pendent several inches long. Flowers fragrant, 
white. Pedicels with a small subulate bract at the base, and 2 small ovate 
bracteoles at the base of the flower. Perianth thin, deeply cut into 6 oval soon 
reflexed segments, of which 3 are more external ; often there are 1 or 2 large 
scales or segments on the outside of these. Stamens 6, inserted at base of seg- 
ments, opposite to them ; filaments subulate, spreading. Anthers shortly oblong, 
opening by 2-clefts. Ovary ovate. — Bot. Mag. t. 3620. 
Hab.: Naturalized near towns. 
Order CII. PHYTOLACCACEjE. 
Perianth of 5 rarely 1 divisions or lobes, either all herbaceous or scarious or 
petal-like on the margins or coloured inside, imbricate in the bud. Staminodia 
(or petals ?), in a few genera not Australian, 5 or fewer, minute and stipitate. 
Stamens as many as perianth-divisions and alternate with them or more 
numerous, inserted on the torus or at the base of the perianth ; anthers 2-celled, 
the cells parrallel, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary either of a single some- 
what excentrical carpel, or of several carpels either distinct or united in a ring 
round the centre of the torus or, in a genus not Australian, forming a single 
1-celled ovary with the ovules in a ring round a central column. Ovules solitary 
in each carpel, ascending, amphitropous or anatropous. Styles as many as 
carpels, proceeding from their upper inner angle, free or united at the base, 
stigmatic along their inner edge. Carpels of the fruit variously enlarged, free or 
united, dry or succulent, indeliiscent or dehiscent along their inner or outer 
edge or both. Seed ascending, sometimes accompanied by a small arillus or 
strophiole ; testa membranous or crustaceous. Albumen mealy or somewhat 
fleshy, copious, scanty, or sometimes none. Embryo usually much curved, 
rarely folded or straight : cotyledons narrow or broad and convolute ; radicle 
inferior. — Herbs, undershrubs, or rarely shrubs or trees, usually glabrous. 
Leaves alternate, usually entire. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, in 
terminal axillary or leaf-opposed spikes racemes or clusters, rarely solitary, 
usually accompanied by a subtending bract and 2 bracteoles. 
The Order is chiefly American and African, a very few species extending into Asia, as weeds 
of cultivation or otherwise introduced. The Australian genera are all endemic. 
Timm I. Hivineae. — Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual. Perianth 4 to 5-parted, 
Ovary monacal pous. Fruit indeliiscent. Cotyledons plicatc-convolute. 
Perianth-segments 4, small, equal. Stamens 4. Style short. Stigma capitate. 
Fruit globose, red 1. ‘RiVIxa. 
Flowers unisexual. Fruit subglobose. Fruit a burr with hooked bristles . 2. Moxocuccus. 
