POLYGALACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 78.
J. Fleischmann del.
Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen.
A Branch with flower-buds. B Flower (from which one of the lateral sepals has been removed). C Flower without the perianth, cut lengthwise. D Group of fruits. E Fruit cut lengthwise.
Corolla regular. Mericarps with a more or less parallel-nerved dorsal wing.—Species 20. Tropical and South-east Africa. Some species are used as ornamental plants or in medicine. (Plate 77.) Acridocarpus Guill. & Perr.
7. Styles very long, divaricate; stigmas small, capitate. Stamens 10.
Petals with a very short claw. Sepals with very scantily developed glands.—Species 4. Central and South-east Africa. Sphedamnocarpus Planch.
Styles short or rather short, erect or slightly divergent; stigmas obliquely truncate, hooked, or broadened. 8
8. Stigmas broadened, semi-orbicular. Ovary with 3 tufts of hairs. Stamens
11-15. Petals with a very short claw. Sepals without glands.—Species
1. Madagascar. Tricomariopsis Dubard & Dop
Stigmas not broadened. Stamens 10. 9
9. Styles hooked at the apex, bearing the stigma at the bent. Petals with a distinct claw. Sepals with glands.—Species 1. West Africa. Heteropteris Juss.
Styles not hooked above, bearing the stigma at the obliquely truncate tip.
Petals with a very short claw. Sepals without glands.—Species 1.
Madagascar. (Under Sphedamnocarpus Planch.) Banisterioides Dubard & Dop
10. (3.) Styles shorter than the ovary. Stigma terminal. Petals with a short claw. Calyx without glands. Mericarps with an undivided side-wing. 11
Styles longer than the ovary. 12
11. Ovary 2-celled. Petals slightly toothed. Leaves alternate.—Species
1. East Africa. Diaspis Nied.
Ovary 3-celled. Mericarps with an air-cavity extending all round. Leaves usually opposite and crowded upon dwarf-shoots.—Species 4. East
Africa. Caucanthus Forsk.
12. Petals sessile, entire. Calyx without glands. Styles 3, very long, with the stigma on the inside of the thickened apex. Mericarps with an undivided side-wing.—Species 1. West Africa to the upper Nile. Flabellaria Cav.
Petals clawed. 13
13. Petals with a very short claw, entire. Calyx without glands. Styles 3, rather short, with a 2-lobed stigma. Flowers polygamous-dioecious, in umbels. Mericarps with a 3-parted side-wing.—Species 5. Madagascar. Microsteira Bak.
Petals with a long or rather long claw. Style long. Flowers usually hermaphrodite. 14
14. Stigma at the inside of the thickened style-apex. Styles 3, all perfectly developed. Calyx without glands. Petals more or less toothed or fringed. Mericarps with a shield-shaped, usually notched side-wing.—Species
25. Tropical and South Africa. Triaspis Burch.
Stigma small, at the slightly or not thickened style-apex. Usually a single style perfectly developed. 15
15. Flowers distinctly irregular. Calyx with a large gland. Petals fringed.
Mericarps with a 3-parted side-wing.—Species 2, one a native of West
Africa, the other one naturalized in the Mascarene Islands. Ornamental plants. (Gaertnera Roxb.) Hiptage Gaertn.
Flowers more or less regular. Calyx with several small glands or without glands. Petals entire. Mericarp with a stellate, many-parted side-wing.—Species
17. Madagascar, East and South-east Africa. Tristellateia Thouars
SUBORDER POLYGALINEAE
[FAMILY 120.] POLYGALACEAE