593 
Erythrococca and Micrococca . 
were enunciated. Since these criteria were laid down, the limits of the 
genus Erythrococca have been extended, and this extension has involved 
the substitution of a new criterion. Our examination of the two characters 
must therefore have regard only to their applicability to a state of affairs 
in which Erythrococca was still looked upon as a monotypic genus, which 
had to be discriminated from a Claoxylon that, except for the removal 
therefrom of the genus Micrococca , Benth., was limited and subdivided in 
accordance with the system devised by Mueller in 1866. The stamens in 
Erythrococca are rarely, if ever, fewer than 6 ; they may be as many as 11. 1 
In the section Adenoclaoxylon , as known to Mueller, the number of stamens 
is 7-8 ; in Discoclaoxylon the number is 6-12. In C. trichogyne and C. triste , 
the two species with stipular thorns and plumosely laciniate stigmas which 
Mueller added to Athroandra , but which do not belong to that section 
in its original sense, the male flowers are still unknown. But in E. hirta> 
Pax, which is so nearly allied to C. trichogyne that the two may be con- 
specific, there are only 10 stamens; in C. Menyharthii , Pax, which is 
equally nearly allied to C. triste , there are only 2-5 stamens. This stamina! 
criterion is, on the whole, adequate so far as Mueller’s sections Gymno- 
claoxylon and Euclaoxylon 2 are concerned ; it is also applicable to that 
portion of Athroandra , Muell. arg., which corresponds with the true Athro¬ 
andra , Hook. f. But it is ineffective so far as Mueller’s sections Adeno¬ 
claoxylon and Discoclaoxylon are concerned, and is probably equally so 
as regards that portion of Athroandra , Muell. arg., which does not belong 
to Athroandra , Hook. f. 
The stigmatic criterion used by Pax in 1890 happens to be less 
effective as between Erythrococca , Benth., and Claoxylon , A. Juss., than the 
1 The experience of Bentham and Pax that the stamens may be fewer than 6 must be looked 
upon as, at least, somewhat exceptional. It is opposed to the experience of Mueller, who appears 
usually to have met with ( 5 , occasionally with 7; 5 in an outer series, with always at least one 
quite central. In view of this conflict of experience, close attention has been given to this ques¬ 
tion, and no apology is needed for a statement of what has so far been actually observed. The usual 
arrangement is precisely that described by Mueller; no flower examined has been met with in which 
the outer series of 5 stamens was incomplete, nor has one been seen in which this outer series was 
unaccompanied by at least one central stamen. But very often there are 2-3 central stamens; 
occasionally there are 4-5 central stamens, and when this is the case these 4 or 5 are definitely 
disposed in a second (inner) series, accompanied by an additional ring of receptacular glands. Very 
rarely, when there are two complete series of stamens (5 + 5), an eleventh quite central stamen is pre¬ 
sent ; this eleventh stamen, however, is hardly ever perfect; usually it has no anther; sometimes it 
has anther cells with no pollen. In flowers with 9-11 stamens the male calyx has always been 
found to be 4-partite; when there are 7-8 stamens the calyx is usually 4-partite. When the calyx is 
3-partite there are almost always 6 stamens arranged as Mueller describes; occasionally, however, 
3-partite calyxes may have 7 stamens, very rarely may have 8. A central imperfect stamen, exactly 
like that occasionally seen in E. aculeata , occurs frequently, though by no means invariably, in 
Claoxylon Menyharthii , and has been interpreted by Brown (Kew Bull. 1909, 141) as a rudimentary 
ovary (C. virens , N. E. Br.). 
2 It is, however, only because of Hooker’s discovery that C. oligandrum, Muell. arg., is not 
an Euclaoxylon but a Micrococca that we are in a position to make this statement, because in C. 
oligandrnm we sometimes find 5 stamens. 
