A Flowering branch. B Flower cut lengthwise. C Cross-section of ovary.
ORDER MALVALES
SUBORDER ELAEOCARPINEAE
[FAMILY 139.] ELAEOCARPACEAE
Trees. Leaves undivided, stipulate. Flowers in axillary racemes, regular, hermaphrodite or polygamous. Sepals 4-6, valvate in bud. Petals 4-6, hypogynous, free, flat at the base, toothed or fringed at the apex, valvate in bud. Stamens numerous, inserted upon a cushion-shaped receptacle. Filaments free. Anthers linear, 2-celled, opening by a terminal pore. Ovary superior, 2-5-celled. Ovules 2 or more in the inner angle of each cell, inverted, pendulous, with ventral raphe, or one of them ascending. Style simple. Fruit a drupe with a septate stone. Seeds albuminous; embryo straight. (Under TILIACEAE.)
Genus 1, species 15. Madagascar, Mauritius, and Socotra. Elaeocarpus L.
SUBORDER CHLAENINEAE
[FAMILY 140.] CHLAENACEAE
Trees or shrubs, rarely climbing. Leaves alternate, simple, entire, stipulate. Flowers solitary or in panicles, regular, hermaphrodite, each flower or pair of flowers usually surrounded by an involucre. Sepals 3-5, imbricate in bud. Petals 5-6, free, hypogynous, with contorted aestivation. Disc ring-or cup-shaped, rarely 5-parted or indistinct. Stamens 10 or more, inserted within the disc or at its edge. Filaments free or united below with the disc, very rarely in 5 bundles. Anthers roundish, opening by 2 sometimes confluent longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 3-celled, with 2 or more ovules in each cell. Style simple; stigmas 1 or 3. Fruit a capsule or a nut. Seeds with a leathery testa and copious albumen.—Genera 7, species 25. Madagascar. (Under TERNSTROEMIACEAE.) (Plate 90.)