[FAMILY 219.] RUBIACEAE
Leaves opposite or whorled, entire, provided with sometimes leaf-like stipules. Flowers regular or nearly so, but sometimes with a curved corolla-tube. Petals united below. Stamens as many as the corolla-lobes, inserted on the corolla, free. Anthers opening by two longitudinal slits, rarely (Argostema) by 1-2 apical pores. Ovary inferior, rarely (Gaertnera) superior, usually 2-or more-celled. Ovules inverted. Style 1, or several styles united at the base.—Genera 150, species 1900. (Plate 144.)
1. Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell. [Subfamily COFFEOIDEAE.] 2
Ovules two or more in each ovary-cell. [Subfamily CINCHONOIDEAE.] 81
2. Ovules pendulous or descending; micropyle superior. Radicle of the embryo superior. 3
Ovules ascending; micropyle inferior. Radicle of the embryo inferior. 30
3. Corolla with imbricate, sometimes contorted aestivation. Shrubs or trees. 4
Corolla with valvate aestivation. 18
4. Corolla with contorted aestivation. Ovary 2-celled. Seeds with copious albumen. Flowers in fascicles or panicles, rarely solitary. [Tribe
ALBERTEAE.] 5
Corolla with imbricate, not contorted aestivation. 16
5. Corolla curved, tubular, hairy within. Calyx 5-partite; 1-4 of the segments much enlarged after flowering. Anthers hairy. Style much exserted. Flowers in terminal panicles. 6
Corolla straight. Calyx-segments not enlarged, rarely all enlarged after flowering. 7
6. Calyx with 1 enlarged segment. Corolla hairy at the base and at the throat. Stamens inserted at the throat of the corolla. Anthers bearded at the base. Style-apex 2-cleft.—Species 1. Madagascar. Nematostylis Hook. fil.
Calyx with 2-4 enlarged segments. Stamens inserted in the corolla-tube.
Style-apex entire.—Species 5. Madagascar and Natal. (Ernestimeyera
O. Ktze.) Alberta E. Mey.
PLANTAGINACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 143.
J. Fleischmann del.
Plantago palmata Hook. fil.
A Plant in flower. B Flower with a bracteole (without the anthers). C Flower cut lengthwise. D Cross-section of ovary.