396 
Prain. — The Mercurialineae and 
plant is also erroneous — this specimen came from the Humansdorp division 
of Cape Colony. Again, Zeyher 1516, one of the types of Diplostylis serrata , 
Sond., is cited under b bupleuroides , which it does not greatly resemble ; 
while Mercurialis Zeyheri , Kunze, which is identical with ( transiens , is 
cited under y humilis . Finally, y humilis and 9 tenella are the same plant ; 
this is also the case with /3 ovalifolia and rj serrata . These blemishes, how- 
ever, are more than compensated for by the advance made by Muller in 
separating the group Adenoclineae from the group Mercurialineae. 
Summary. 
A careful examination of the material available and of the statements 
made by botanical writers shows that, of the South African species which 
have from time to time been treated as species of Mercurialis , Linn., only 
one is really a member of the genus. This species, M . annua , Linn. (Sp. PL, 
ed. i, 1036), is, however, only an introduced weed of cultivated ground which, 
although evidently already introduced before 1737, is even yet mostly to 
be met with in or near the Cape Peninsula. Of the remaining species, about 
one-third are really Mercurialineae, using this term in a sense somewhat 
more restricted than that in which it has been employed by Pax (Nat. 
Pflanzenf, iii. 5, 46) ; the rest are Adenoclineae, using this term as it was 
used by Muller (DC. Prodr., xv. 2, 1139). The Mercurialineae, a group 
within the subtribe Acalypheae, are represented in South Africa by two 
endemic genera, Seidelia , Baill. (1858), and Leidesia , Mull. arg. (1866). The 
Adenoclineae, a group within the subtribe Gelonieae, though more numerous, 
are referable to a single endemic genus Adenocline , Turcz. (1843), which, 
however, includes two distinct sections, one corresponding to the genus 
Diplostylis , Sond. (1850), the other to the genus Par adenocline , Miill. arg. 
( 1 8 ( 56 ). 
The salient characters of these various groups are as follows : — 
I. Mercurialineae [Acalyphearum grex]. Herbs, annual or with 
persistent base. Calyx closed in bud, valvately lobed. Stamens central ; 
anther-cells subglobose, divaricate. Ovary 2-celled ; styles short, entire. 
Capsule 2-coccous. 
1. Mercurialis, Linn. Leaves opposite, herbaceous. Stamens 8-20 ; 
anthers 2-celled, 2-valved, cells at first pendulous. Hypogynous disc of 
2 linear-subulate scales alternate with the carpels. Inflorescences usually 
i-sexual, rarely androgynous. — Species 6 ; five European, one Asiatic. One 
of the European species occurs as an introduced weed in South Africa. 
2. Seidelia, Baill. Leaves alternate, herbaceous. Stamens 3 or 2 ; 
anthers 2-celled, at length cruciately 4-valved ; cells ascending. Hypogynous 
disc of 2 minute glands alternate with the carpels. Capsule glabrous. In- 
