6io 
WEL WITSCHIA 
with a two-lobed form and almost circular in section. It narrows 
downwards into a stout tap-root. At the edges of the two lobes are 
two grooves, from each of which springs a leaf. These leaves are the 
first pair after the cotyledons and are the only leaves the plant ever 
has ; they go on growing at the base throughout its life, wearing away 
at the tips and often becoming torn down to the base. The stem 
continues to grow in thickness, and exhibits concentric grooves upon 
the top surface. In the outer (younger) of these grooves the firs, 
appear, in panicles of small spikes ; they are covered by bracts which 
become bright red after fertilisation. The firs, are unisexual. In the 
<T , there is a perianth of 2 + 2 leaves, the outer whorl transverse to 
the bract ; sta. 6, united below, with 3-loc. anthers ; gynoeceum rudi- 
mentary, but with the integument of the ovule looking like a style 
and stigma. In the ? , the perianth-leaves are fused into a tube, and 
are equivalent to the two outer leaves of the $ ; there is no trace of 
sta. Ovule 1, erect, with the integument drawn out beyond it. Seed 
with endosperm and perisperm, enclosed in the perianth which becomes 
winged. [See Gymnospermae.] 
Werneria H. B. et K. Compositae (vm). 30 sp. Andes, Himal., 
Abyssinia. 
Westringia Sm. Labiatae (11). 12 sp. Austr. 
Whipplea Torr. Saxifragaceae (ill). 2 sp. West U. S. 
Whitlavia Harv. =Phacelia Juss. 
Widdringtonia Endl. = Callitris Vent. 
Wigandia H. B. et K. Hydrophyllaceae. 6 sp. Mts. of trop. Am. 
Willughbeia Roxb. Apocynaceae (1. 1). 10 sp. Malaya, Ceylon, Assam. 
Winterana Linn. = Canella P. Br. 
Winteranaceae = Canellaceae. 
Wistaria Nutt. (Bradburya Rafin. in part, Kraunhia Rafin.). Legu- 
minosae (ill. 6). 5 sp. China, Japan, N. Am. W. chinensis DC. 
(China) is a climbing shrub often grown on houses in Brit, for its 
beautiful and sweet-scented firs. The floral mechanism is like that 
of Trifolium. The pods explode violently. 
Witsenia Thunb. Iridaceae (11). 1 sp. Cape Colony. Several sp., 
cultivated as W., belong to Aristea and other genera. 
Wolffia Horkel. Lemnaceae. 6 sp. trop. and temp. IV. arrhiza 
Wimm. in Brit, (the smallest of flowering plants). 
Woodfordia Salisb. Lythraceae. 2 sp., one Abyss., and 1 (IV. flori- 
bunda Salisb.) Madag., Ind., China, Timor. 
Woodsia Br. Polypodiaceae. 1 5 sp. alpine and arctic. W. ilvensis Br. 
and W. hyperborea Br. are rare alpine ferns in Brit. 
Woodwardia Sm. Polypodiaceae. 6 sp. N. Hemisph. 
Wormia Rottb. Dilleniaceae. 20 sp. trop. As., Afr. Included in 
Dillenia in Nat . PJi . 
Wrightia R. Br. Apocynaceae (11. 5). 10 sp. trop., Afr., As., Austr. 
Wulfenia Jacq. Scrophulariaceae (in. 10). 3 sp. Eur., As. 
