Adenoclineae of South Africa. 397 
florescences usually androgynous, rarely i-sexual. — Species 2, endemic in 
South Africa. 
3. Leidesia, Mull. arg. Leaves alternate, or occasionally opposite or 
subopposite at the lower branches, usually pellucid and flaccid, rarely her- 
baceous. Stamens 3-7; anthers 2-celled, 2-valved ; cells ascending. Hypo- 
gynous disc of 2 minute glands alternate with the carpels, or obsolete. 
Capsule hispidulous. Inflorescences androgynous. — Species 3, endemic in 
South Africa. 
II. Adenoclineae [Geloniearum grex]. Herbs with persistent base, 
rarely annual. Calyx quincuncially imbricate. Stamens peripheral, 2-seriate ; 
anther-cells obovoid, divaricate. Ovary 3-celled, with the odd cell posterior ; 
styles slender, 2-partite. Capsule 3-coccous. 
4. Adenocline, Turcz. Stamens 6-12 ; anthers 2-valved. Hypogynous 
disc of 3 staminodiform glands alternate with the carpels. — Species 8, all 
endemic in South Africa. 
§ P aradenocline , MUll. arg. (gen.). Leaves alternate or occasionally 
opposite or subopposite at the lower branches, pellucid and flaccid. Anther- 
cells at first pendulous. Inflorescences androgynous. — Species 1, annual. 
§§ Diplostylis , Sond. (gen.). Leaves usually all alternate, in one species 
(A. acuta) all opposite, herbaceous. Anther-cells ascending. Inflorescences 
always 1 -sexual. — Species 7, all with a persistent base. 
1. Mercurialis, Tournef. 
Mercurialis , Tournef. sec. Linn., Gen. PI., ed. 1, 307, syn. Boerh. excl. 
( I 737 ) ; Thunb., Flor. Cap., ed. Schult., 387 (1823) ; Benth. in Benth. et 
Hook, f., Gen. PL, iii. 309 (1880) ; Pax in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenf. 
iii. 5, 49, fig. 29 B-D (1890). 
Flores monoici vel casu ( M . annua) dioici, apetali. cF Calyx tenuiter 
membranaceus, in alabastro clausus, globosus vel ovoideus, per anthesin 
valvatim 3-partitus. Stamina 8-20, centralia, filamentis liberis ; antherae 
terminales, apertae patenter 2-valves ; locelli primum penduli. Ovarii 
rudimentum o. $ Calyx alte 3-sectus. Discus hypogynus e laminis 2 
lineari-subulatis carpidiis alternantibus compositus. Ovarium 2-loculare ; 
ovula in quoque loculo solitaria ; styli breves, erecti vel divergentes, intus 
papillosi, indivisi. Capsida didyma in coccos 2- valves dissiliens, pericarpio 
membranaceo, endocarpio crustaceo. Semina ovoidea vel globosa; testa 
Crustacea ; albumen carnosum ; cotyledones latae, planae. — Herbae annuae 
vel rhizomate perennante ; glabrae vel pubescentes. Folia opposita. 
M. annua, Linn., Sp. PL, ed. 1, 1035 (1753) ; Burm., FI. Cap. Prodr., 27 
bis [31] (1768) ; Thunb., Prodr. PL Cap., 78 (1794), et FI. Cap., ed. Schult., 
387, quoad descr. sed spp. Outeniq. excl. (1823); Baill., Adansonia, iii. 158 
