2 18 
FLORA OF ADEN. 
Fruit 2-celled, usually separating into 2 indehiscent 1 -seeded meri- 
carps which are attached near the apex o£ their faces to a central axis 
(carpophore), which usually splits and allows the mericarp to separate 
from their median plane or commissure, or occasionally remains undivided, 
Mericarp usually marked by five longitudinal lines (primary ridges), 
2 of which are lateral, L dorsal at the middle of the back and 2-inter- 
mediate, and often with 4 more (secondary ridges) alternating with the 
primary ones. Seed one in each carpel, pendulous from the point of 
attachment to the carpophore; testa thin ; albumen cartilaginous; embryo 
minute, straight, near the apex of the seed ; radicle superior. 
Genera 152 ; species about 1,300. 
Distribution : — Temperate regions, especially of the northern hemi- 
sphere, but more or less throughout the world. 
1. Ptycliotis Rocli, 
A nnual or biennial herbs. Cauline leaves multifidly capillaceous. 
Umbels axillary, compound ; involucre wanting or few-leaved ; involueel 
of several leaves. Flowers white. Margin of calyx 5-toothed. Petals 
obovate, bifid, or deeply emarginate, with a long indexed point pro- 
ceeding from the sinus. Fruit compressed, ovate or oblong. Mericarps 
with 5 equal, filiform, primary ridges, the lateral ones marginal. 
Interstices with single vittse. Carpophore bi-partite. Seeds terete or 
■gibbously convex, flattish in front. 
Species 6. 
Distribution : — Europe, Africa, Arabia. 
1. Ptycliotis arabica Anders. Journ. Linn. Soc. V, Suppl. p. 21. 
Arabic name : — Kelesere. 
Description : — A small herb, 2 — 4 inches high, puberulous ; stem 
erect, terete, puberulous with pilose hairs. Leaves herbaceous, sub- 
tomentose or glabrous, pinnate or bipinnate, slender- petioled ; segments 
ternate, deeply lobate ; lobes cuneate, 3 — 4-lid. Involucrum pentaphyllous ; 
lacinise setaceous, subulate, acute ; involueel ium 3 — 5-phyllous. Flowers 
inconspicuous, white when dry. Petals minute, squamseform, mucronate 
at the apex ; mucro involute. Mericarps 5-costate ; ribs glandular- 
hairy. 
Flowers and fruits: — February 1851 (Thomson), March 3878 
(Perry), April 1861 (Thomson), December 1847 (Hooker). 
Locality: — "Wadi Maala (Schweinf.) ; top of Shum Shum Range, 
1,700 ft. (Hook., Thomson, Defh, Busse; without locality (Birdw., 
Perry) . 
Distribution : — Yemen. 
