FAMILY 60. OCTOKNEMATACEAE

Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, undivided, without stipules. Flowers in axillary racemes. Petals 5, valvate in bud. Stamens 5, opposite the petals; filaments short. Disc obscure. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with a free filiform placenta and 3 pendulous ovules. Style divided into 3-5 two-or three-cleft lobes. Fruit woody, surrounded by the fleshy receptacle. Seeds with a thin coat; embryo minute, situated at the apex of the 8-furrowed albumen. (Under OLACACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 3. Equatorial West Africa.  Octoknema Pierre

SUBORDER LORANTHINEAE

FAMILY 61. LORANTHACEAE

Shrubs, parasitic upon trees. Leaves undivided, exstipulate, sometimes scale-like. Perianth simple, with 2-6 valvate segments, often surrounded at the base by a calyx-like outgrowth of the receptacle. Stamens as many as and opposite the perianth-segments and inserted on them. Ovary inferior, with 1-4 indistinctly developed ovules. Style and stigma simple. Fruit succulent. Seeds albuminous.—Genera, 4, species 300. (Plate 37.)

1. Receptacle with a calyx-like outgrowth surrounding the base of the perianth.
Flowers usually hermaphrodite. Anthers usually stalked and opening by two longitudinal slits. Style more or less filiform. Leaves well-developed.—Species 250. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used medicinally. (Plate 37). [Subfamily LORANTHOIDEAE.]  LORANTHUS L.

Receptacle without a calyx-like outgrowth. Flowers unisexual. Anthers sessile. [Subfamily VISCOIDEAE.]  2

2. Anthers adnate to the perianth; cells several or many, opening by pores.
Placenta basal. Flowers in clusters of 3 or more.—Species 50. Some of them yield bird-lime or are used medicinally. “Mistletoe.” [Tribe
VISCEAE.]  Viscum L.

Anthers seated on the perianth, but not adnate to it; cells 1-2, opening by longitudinal or transverse slits. Placenta central. Leaves scale-like.  3

3. Anthers 1-celled, opening by a transverse slit. Perianth of the male flowers
2-5-parted, of the female 2-parted. Flowers dioecious, solitary.—Species
1. North-West Africa. [Tribe ARCEUTHOBIEAE.]  Arceuthobium Marsch. Bieb.

Anthers 2-celled, opening by 2 longitudinal slits. Perianth 3-parted.
Flowers monoecious, disposed in rows.—Species 5. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. (Bifaria Van Tiegh.) [Tribe PHORADENDREAE.]  Korthalsella Van Tiegh.

SUBORDER BALANOPHORINEAE

FAMILY 62. BALANOPHORACEAE

Succulent herbs without green colour, parasitic on roots, upon which their root-stock is seated. Leaves reduced to scales. Flowers in spadix-like spikes or heads, red, unisexual. Perianth in the male flowers of 3-6 segments, in the female 3-lobed or wanting. Stamens as many as and opposite the perianth-segments, sometimes one of them abortive. Ovary inferior or naked, 1-celled. Ovules 1-3, pendulous from a central placenta or from the apex of the cell or adnate to the wall of the ovary, without coats. Style simple, sometimes very short; stigma entire or lobed. Fruit a drupe. Seed without a testa; albumen copious; embryo small, apical, undivided.—Genera 4, species 6. Tropical and South Africa.

1. Fertile stamens 2. Female flowers with a 3-lobed perianth. Ovules 3.
Stigma 3-lobed, borne on a long filiform style. Spadices oblong, solitary.—Species
2. South Africa. [Subfamily MYSTROPETALOIDEAE.]  Mystropetalon Harv.

Fertile stamens 3 or more. Female flowers without a perianth, but the base of the style sometimes surrounded by a tubular outgrowth of the receptacle. Stigma entire or sessile.  2

2. Stamens free. Anthers globose, many-celled. Ovules 3. Stigma sessile.
Spadices panicled. Root-stock not resinous.—Species 1. South and
East Africa. [Subfamily SARCOPHYTOIDEAE.]  Sarcophyte Sparrm.

Stamens united. Anthers 2-4-celled. Ovule 1. Style and stigma simple. Spadices solitary. Root-stock resinous. [Subfamily BALANOPHOROIDEAE.]  3

3. Anthers 3-6, linear, 4-celled. Ovary linear. Ovule adnate to the wall of the ovary. Perianth-segments of the male flowers linear. Spadices hemispherical.—Species 2. Tropics. [Tribe LANGSDORFFIEAE.]  Thonningia Vahl

Anthers numerous, 2-celled. Ovule free, pendulous.—Species 1. Comoro
Islands. [Tribe BALANOPHOREAE.]  Balanophora Forst.

ORDER ARISTOLOCHIALES

FAMILY 63. ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

Leaves alternate, entire or lobed. Flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters, irregular, hermaphrodite. Perianth simple, corolla-like, with a distinct tube. Stamens 5-24, adnate to the style. Anthers opening outwards or laterally by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 4-6-celled. Ovules several or many in each cell, pendulous descending or horizontal, inverted. Style or stigma 6-lobed. Fruit capsular. Seeds with a small embryo and copious albumen. (Plate 38.)

Genus 1, species 30. Some are used medicinally.  Aristolochia L.

FAMILY 64. RAFFLESIACEAE

Parasitic herbs, partly immersed in the tissue of the plants upon which they grow. Leaves reduced to scales. Flowers terminal, solitary or in racemes, regular, unisexual. Perianth-segments 4 or more. Stamens 8 or more; filaments united into a column. Ovary inferior, 1-celled with 4 or more parietal placentas, or several-celled with axile placentas. Ovules numerous. Style simple; stigmas situated beneath its thickened apex. Fruit a berry. Seeds minute, with a hard testa, oily albumen, and undivided embryo.—Genera 2, Species 4. (CYTINACEAE.)

Ovary 1-celled, with usually 4 slightly projecting parietal placentas.
Ovules inverted. Anthers affixed beneath the thickened apex of the staminal column, opening by transverse slits. Perianth-segments free.
Flowers solitary.—Species 1. Southern West Africa (Angola). (Under
Apodanthes Poiteau). [Tribe APODANTHEAE.]  Pilostyles Guill.

Ovary more or less completely 6- or more-celled; placentas parietal, but much projecting, sometimes uniting in the middle. Ovules straight.
Anthers laterally affixed to the thickened apex of the staminal column, opening by longitudinal slits. Perianth-segments united below. Flowers in spikes, racemes, or panicles.—Species 3. North and South Africa and
Madagascar. They have edible fruits and are used medicinally. [Tribe
CYTINEAE.]  Cytinus L.

FAMILY 65. HYDNORACEAE

Fleshy, herbaceous, leafless root-parasites with a creeping root-stock. Flowers solitary, regular, hermaphrodite. Perianth simple, fleshy, tubular, with 3-4 (very rarely 5) valvate segments. Stamens as many as and alternate with the perianth-segments, inserted in the tube; filaments united; anther-cells numerous, linear, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with many placentas hanging down from the top of the cell. Stigma sessile. Fruit succulent. Seeds with a hard testa, copious albumen, and undivided embryo. (Under CYTINACEAE).

Genus 1, species 8. Tropical and South Africa. Some are edible or used for tanning.  Hydnora Thunb.

ORDER POLYGONALES

FAMILY 66. POLYGONACEAE

Leaves alternate, undivided or pinnately cleft, provided at the base with a stem-clasping sheath. Flowers regular. Perianth-segments 3-6. Stamens 4-50. Ovary superior, 1-celled. Ovule 1. Styles 2-4, free or united at the base. Fruit a nut. Seed with an abundant, mealy albumen and a usually lateral embryo.—Genera 9, species 120. (Plate 39.)

1. Stamens as many as perianth-segments, 6, rarely 4; occasionally fewer than perianth-segments, and then stamens 4-5 and perianth-segments 5-6 in the male, 6 in the female flowers; in this case stem herbaceous and flowers monoecious. [Subfamily RUMICOIDEAE, Tribe RUMICEAE.]  2

Stamens more than perianth-segments, rarely equal in number, but then 5.
Herbs or undershrubs with hermaphrodite or polygamous flowers, or shrubs.  3

2. Perianth at the time of maturity firm, tubular, tightly clasping the fruit.
Flowers unisexual. Annual herbs.—Species 2. North and South
Africa, also naturalized in the Mascarene Islands.  Emex Neck.

Perianth at the time of maturity more or less membranous, not tubular and not clasping the fruit very tightly.—Species 45. Some are used as vegetables, for tanning and dyeing, or in medicine. “Dock.”  Rumex L.

3. Seed with ruminate albumen. Shrubs with 5, 7-10, or 20-50 stamens.
[Subfamily COCCOLOBOIDEAE.]  4

Seed with homogeneous albumen. Herbs or undershrubs, more rarely shrubs with 6 or 12-18 stamens. [Subfamily POLYGONOIDEAE.]  5

4. Flowers unisexual. Perianth-segments 4 or 6, the outer deciduous. Stamens
20-50. Erect shrubs or trees.—Species 1. West Africa. [Tribe
TRIPLARIDEAE.]  Symmeria Benth.

Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth-segments 5, united at the base into a tube becoming two-winged in fruit. Stamens 5-10. Mostly climbing, tendril-bearing plants.—Species 3. West Africa. [Tribe COCCOLOBEAE.]  Brunnichia Banks

5. Stem woody, shrubby. Leaves small. Stamens 6 or 12-18. Filaments united at the base. [Tribe ATRAPHAXIDEAE.]  6

Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only. Stamens 8, more rarely
5-7. Filaments free, but sometimes inserted on a ring-shaped disc.
[Tribe POLYGONEAE.]  7

6. Perianth-segments 4, the inner much enlarged in fruit. Stamens 6, the outer with a callosity at the base. Stigmas 2. Fruit glabrous. Embryo lateral. Leaves ovate or orbicular.—Species 1. Egypt.  Atraphaxis L.

Perianth-segments 5-6, not enlarged in fruit. Stamens 12-18, with
a hairy appendage at the base. Stigmas 4. Fruit bristly. Embryo axile. Leaves linear or subulate.—Species 1. North Africa.  Calligonum L.

7. Perianth-segments of the hermaphrodite and female flowers united below into a narrow tube. Flowers polygamous.—Species 17. Central and
South Africa. Some are used as vegetables and for making bread.
(Including Raphanopsis Welw.) (Plate 39.) Oxygonum Burch.

Perianth-segments not united below into a narrow tube.  8

8. Seed with broad, folded cotyledons. Perianth shorter than the fruit.
Leaves cordate.—Species 1 (F. esculentum Moench, buckwheat).
Cultivated as a cereal or fodder-plant. (Under Polygonum L.)  Fagopyrum Gaertn.

Seed with narrow, not folded cotyledons.—Species 50. Some are poisonous, others serve as ornamental, medicinal, or fodder-plants, or yield tanning and dyeing materials.  Polygonum L.

ORDER CENTROSPERMAE

SUBORDER CHENOPODIINEAE

FAMILY 67. CHENOPODIACEAE

Stem erect, ascending, or prostrate. Leaves exstipulate, sometimes wanting. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish. Perianth simple, of 1-5 imbricate segments, herbaceous or membranous, persistent, rarely wanting. Stamens as many as and opposite the perianth-segments or fewer, inserted on the receptacle or the base of the perianth. Anthers attached by the back, opening inwards or laterally by longitudinal slits, curved inwards in the bud. Ovary superior, rarely (Beta) half-inferior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, on a basal funicle, curved. Stigmas 2-5. Fruit dehiscing by a lid or indehiscent. Seed with a curved, peripheral embryo.—Genera 26, species 120. (SALSOLACEAE.) (Plate 40.)

1. Embryo spiral. Albumen wanting or separated in two parts by the embryo.  2

Embryo more or less ring- or horseshoe-shaped or folded together. Albumen wholly or partly enclosed by the embryo, rarely wanting.  11

2. Bracteoles small, scale-like. Perianth herbaceous or fleshy. Stigmas thread-shaped, papillose all round. Leaves glabrous, fleshy.—Species
10. Some are used as vegetables or for making soda. (Including
Chenopodina Moq., Lerchia Hall., Schanginia C. A. Mey., Schoberia C. A.
Mey., and Sevada Moq.) [Tribe SUAEDEAE.]  Suaeda Forsk.

Bracteoles equalling or exceeding the perianth. Perianth usually membranous.
Stigmas papillose on the inside. Leaves usually hairy.
[Tribe SALSOLEAE.]  3

3. Seed horizontal. Disc usually inconspicuous. [Subtribe SODINAE.]  4

Seed vertical. Disc usually lobed. [Subtribe ANABASINAE.]  6

4. Perianth 5-lobed, hardening to the top and wingless in the fruit. Filaments flattened. Disc inconspicuous. Embryo in a conical spiral. Shrubs with continuous branches and alternate leaves.—Species 2. North
Africa to the Sahara. (Plate 40.)  Traganum Del.

Perianth 4-5-parted or of 4-5 free segments, not hardening or at the base only and furnished with a horizontal wing in the fruit.  5

5. Branches jointed. Leaves scale-like, opposite, connate in pairs. Shrubs.
Perianth-segments free. Anthers blunt. Disc lobed, enlarged in the fruit. Embryo in a flat spiral.—Species 2. North Africa.  Haloxylon Bunge

Branches continuous. Disc usually inconspicuous.—Species 20. Some of them are used as vegetables or in medicine or furnish soda. “Saltwort.”
(Including Caroxylon Thunb.)  Salsola L.

6. Perianth of 2 inner and 3 outer segments of which two are in front and one behind. Fruiting perianth winged, not hardened. Seed compressed dorsally. Flowers solitary, more rarely in clusters, and then branches jointed and leaves opposite.  7

Perianth of 3 inner and 2 outer segments of which one is in front and one behind. Fruiting perianth more or less hardened. Seed compressed laterally. Branches continuous.  8

7. Branches jointed. Leaves opposite, sometimes reduced to scales. Filaments awl-shaped. Style short.—Species 5. North Africa and
Nubia. Some yield soda or are used medicinally.  Anabasis L.

Branches continuous. Leaves alternate. Spinous shrubs. Flowers solitary.
Filaments flattened; connective pointed. Style long. Pericarp membranous.—Species 1. North Africa.  Noaea Moq.

8. Perianth-segments united at the base, wingless in the fruit, but one of them sometimes produced into a prickle. Style long. Shrubs.  9

Perianth-segments free, winged in the fruit, at least some of them. Style short. Disc lobed. Leaves alternate. Flowers in clusters.  10

9. Leaves opposite. Flowers in pairs, hermaphrodite. Disc indistinct.—Species
1. Sahara.  Nucularia Battand.

Leaves alternate. Flowers in clusters, polygamous. Disc lobed.—Species
2. North Africa and Northern Central Africa.  Cornulaca Del.

10. Inner perianth-segments not winged in the fruit. Stamens with a 2-lobed connective. Shrubs.—Species 1. North Africa. (Under Halogeton
C. A. Mey.)  Agathophora Fenzl

Inner and outer perianth-segments winged in the fruit. Stamens with
a blunt connective. Herbs.—Species 1. North-West Africa (Algeria).
Used as a vegetable or for making soda.  Halogeton C. A. Mey.

11. (1.) Branches more or less distinctly jointed. Leaves little developed, glabrous. Flowers in clusters, usually of 3, arising in the axils of scale-like bracts or apparently sunk in hollows of the rachis and collected in cone-shaped inflorescences. Stamens 1-2. [Tribe
SALICORNIEAE.]  12

Branches continuous. Leaves well developed, usually hairy. Flowers solitary or in clusters, more rarely in spike-like inflorescences. Stamens
3-5, more rarely 1-2.  16

12. Bracts and upper leaves alternate.  13

Bracts and upper leaves opposite.  14

13. Perianth slightly flattened from the side, 4-5-toothed, surrounded by a wing-like border. Stamens 2. Ovule with a short funicle. Micropyle of the ovule and radicle of the embryo inferior. Low shrubs.—Species
1. North-West Africa (Algeria).  Kalidium Moq.

Perianth flattened from the back, 3-toothed, without a wing-like border.
Ovule with a long funicle. Micropyle and radicle superior or ascending.—Species
2. North Africa to Nubia. Yield soda.  Halopeplis Bunge

14. Bracts free, peltate, deciduous. Perianth 3-parted. Stamen 1, inserted in front. Ovule on a long, curved, almost ring-shaped funicle. Micropyle and radicle superior. Shrubs.—Species 1. North Africa to Eritrea. Yields soda.  Halocnemum Marsch. Bieb.

Bracts united, persistent; flower-clusters apparently sunk in hollows of the branch-joints. Perianth 3-4-toothed or -cleft. Stamen 1, inserted behind, or stamens 2. Ovule on a short funicle. Micropyle and radicle inferior.  15

15. Seed smooth or tubercled; embryo curved; albumen abundant, lateral.
Stamens 2. Stigmas 2. Shrubs.—Species 3. North and Central
Africa. They yield soda and are used in medicine.  Arthrocnemum Moq.

Seed hairy; embryo folded together; albumen scanty and central or wanting.—Species 4. Sea-coasts. They yield soda and are used in medicine.  Salicornia L.

16. Flowers unisexual, sometimes intermixed with a few hermaphrodite, of two kinds, the male and hermaphrodite with a 3-5-parted perianth and without bracteoles, the female without a perianth, but with 2 sometimes united or 2-parted bracteoles. Stamens 3-5. Leaves glabrous, mealy or cottony, usually hastate. [Tribe ATRIPLICEAE.]  17

Flowers hermaphrodite, sometimes intermixed with similar unisexual ones, all with 4-5 perianth-segments.  19

17. Bracteoles small, narrow, free, unchanged in the fruiting stage, not enclosing the fruit. Flowers monoecious. Stamens 5. Shrubs.—Species
2. South Africa and St. Helena.  Exomis Fenzl

Bracteoles large, broad, usually united and hardening, completely enclosing the fruit.  18

18. Bracteoles united nearly to the top, hardened in the fruit and sometimes prolonged into 2-4 prickles. Flowers dioecious. Stigmas 4-5. Stem and leaves glabrous. Herbs.—Species 1 (S. oleracea L., spinach).
Cultivated in the extra-tropical regions. It serves as a vegetable; the seeds are sometimes used for making bread.  Spinacia L.

Bracteoles free and herbaceous, or more or less united, but not nearly to the top, and at length hardened. Stigmas 2-3. Stem and leaves clothed, when young, with bladdery hairs, afterwards mostly with a close minute whitish pubescence.—Species 20. Some are used as vegetables, for making soda, in medicine, or as ornamental plants. “Orache.” (Including
Obione Gaertn.)  Atripex L.

19. Ovary half-inferior. Perianth-segments connivent in the fruit. Fruit dehiscing by a lid. Herbs with a fleshy taproot. Bracteoles usually present.—Species 3. North Africa and Cape Verde Islands; one of them (B. vulgaris L., beet) also cultivated in South Africa and Madagascar.
The latter species yields sugar, vegetables, fodder, and a substitute for coffee and tobacco. [Tribe BETEAE.]  Beta L.

Ovary superior. Fruit indehiscent, rarely dehiscing by a lid, but then
perianth-segments spreading in the fruit.  20

20. Flowers with bracteoles, solitary. Perianth membranous, unchanged in the fruit; segments erect. Stigmas 2. Ovule on a long funicle.
Pericarp membranous. Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves subulate, rigid, pungent.—Species 1. North-West Africa (Algeria). [Tribe
POLYCNEMEAE.]  Polycnemum L.

Flowers without bracteoles.  21

21. Perianth 4-5-lobed, membranous. Leaves narrow, clothed with thin hairs. [Tribe CAMPHOROSMEAE.]  22

Perianth 5-parted, rarely 4-parted or 5-lobed, more or less herbaceous.
Leaves usually broad and clothed with bladdery hairs.  25

22. Perianth unequally 4-toothed, scarcely changed in the fruit. Stamens
4. Seed erect. Embryo horseshoe-shaped. Flowers in spikes. Undershrubs.—Species
1. North Africa. Used medicinally.  Camphorosma L.

Perianth 5-toothed, 5-lobed, or 5-cleft. Stamens 5. Seed nearly always horizontal. Embryo ring-shaped. Flowers solitary or in clusters, in the axils of the leaves.  23

23. Fruiting perianth unchanged and unappendaged. Undershrubs.—Species
3. North and South Africa.  Chenolea Thunb.

Fruiting perianth winged, gibbous, or prickly.  24

24. Fruiting perianth gibbous or prickly.—Species 2. North Africa. (Echinopsilon
Moq., under Chenolea Thunb. or Kochia Roth).  Bassia All.

Fruiting perianth with one or several wings.—Species 3. South Africa to
Hereroland and North Africa to Nubia.  Kochia Roth

25. Fruit not enclosed in the perianth, dehiscing with a lid. Perianth-segments spreading, linear-oblong. Stamens 5, much shorter than the perianth.
Stigmas 2, short. Leaves elliptical or lanceolate, entire, glabrous.
Undershrubs.—Species 1. North-West Africa (Algeria).  Oreobliton Durieu & Moq.

Fruit wholly or partly enclosed in the perianth, indehiscent. Leaves usually broad, toothed, and mealy or glandular-hairy.—Species 25.
Some of them yield edible seeds, dyes, and medicaments, or are used as vegetables or ornamental plants; several are poisonous. “Goosefoot.”
(Including Blitum L. and Roubieva Moq.) [Tribe CHENOPODIEAE.]  Chenopodium L.

FAMILY 68. AMARANTACEAE

Leaves without stipules. Perianth more or less dry, simple, of 1-5 imbricate segments. Stamens as many as and opposite the perianth-segments or fewer. Anthers attached by the back, opening inwards by two longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1-celled. Ovules erect or suspended from a basal funicle, curved. Fruit dehiscing by a lid or indehiscent. Embryo surrounding the mealy albumen.—Genera 32, species 200. (Plate 41.)

1. Anthers 1-celled. Ovule 1. Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves opposite.
Inflorescences head-or shortly spike-shaped. [Subfamily GOMPHRENCIDEAE, tribe GOMPHRENEAE.]  2

Anthers 2-celled. [Subfamily AMARANTOIDEAE.]  4

2. Stigma 1, capitate. Fertile stamens alternating with staminodes.—Species
7. Some are used as ornamental plants, others are noxious weeds. (Including Telanthera R. Br.) [Subtribe FROEHLICHINAE.]  Alternanthera Forsk.

Stigmas 2-4, subulate. [Subtribe GOMPHRENINAE.]  3

3. Filaments entire.—Species 1. Central Africa. (Philoxerus R. Br.)  Iresine L.

Filaments fringed, toothed, or 3-parted.—Species 1. Tropical and South
East Africa. A weed, sometimes used as an ornamental plant.  Gomphrena L.

4. Ovule 1. [Tribe AMARANTEAE.]  5

Ovules 2 or more, very rarely ovule 1, erect; in this case filaments united below into a membranous tube and flowers hermaphrodite. [Tribe
CELOSIEAE.]  32

5. Ovule erect. Radicle of the embryo descending. Filaments free or united in a ring at the base. Flowers unisexual, polygamous, or hermaphrodite but intermixed with sterile ones. Leaves alternate. [Subtribe AMARANTINAE.]  6

Ovule pendulous. Radicle of the embryo ascending. [Subtribe ACHYRANTHINAE.]  9

6. Perianth spreading. Filaments united at the base. Stigmas 3. Fruit a berry. Shrubs. Flowers polygamous, in spikes or racemes.—Species
1. Canary Islands.  Bosia L.

Perianth erect. Herbs or undershrubs.  7

7. Flowers unisexual or polygamous; no sterile ones. Filaments free.—Species
20. Some of them have edible seeds or are used as vegetables, in medicine or as ornamental plants. (Including Albersia Kunth, Amblogyna
Rafin., and Euxolus Rafin.)  Amarantus L.

Flowers hermaphrodite. Partial inflorescences consisting of one fertile and two sterile flowers.  8

8. Sterile flowers comb-shaped. Filaments free. Style short; stigma 2-lobed.—Species
1. Tropical and North Africa. Used as a vegetable.  Digera Forsk.

Sterile flowers wing-shaped. Filaments united at the base. Style long; stigmas 2.—Species 1. Northern East Africa (Somaliland).  Pleuropterantha Franch.

9. Flowers solitary in the axil of each bract.  10

Flowers in clusters of two or more; usually some of them sterile.  20

10. Spurious staminodes (sterile processes) interposed between the fertile stamens.  11

Spurious staminodes wanting.  18

11. Perianth densely covered with silky or woolly hairs.  12

Perianth glabrous or scantily hairy.  15

12. Perianth-segments firmly leathery, silky-hairy, 3-nerved. Shrubs. Leaves alternate, fleshy.—Species 1. South Africa to Damaraland. (Under
Sericocoma Fenzl).  Calicorema Hook. fil.

Perianth-segments more or less membranous.  13

13. Branches jointed. Leaves very small, opposite, ovate, acuminate. Undershrubs.—Species
1. Southern West Africa (Hereroland).  Arthraerua Schinz

Branches continuous.  14

14. Perianth-segments silky, more or less thickened and hardened at the base, 1-nerved. Flowers small. Ovary hairy. Stigma capitate.—Species
8. Southern and Central Africa.  Sericocoma Fenzl

Perianth-segments woolly, not thickened. Flowers very small, in dense spikes.—Species 10. Some are used as vegetables or as ornamental plants. (Ouret Adans.)  Aerva Forsk.

15. Spurious staminodes minute, narrow, acute, unappendaged. Perianth-segments brownish-red, stiff-leathery, large, oblong, 3-nerved. Inflorescence head-like, ovoid. Leaves usually alternate. Undershrubs.—Species
1. Southern West Africa (Angola and Congo).  Mechowia Schinz

Spurious staminodes more or less quadrate, fringed or appendaged. Leaves opposite.  16

16. Spurious staminodes fringed below the top. Perianth-segments erect, oblong, blunt, thickened below. Flowers erect, spicate. Leaves small, sessile, linear-oblong. Herbs.—Species 1. Southern East Africa.
(Under Pandiaka Hook. fil.)  Argyrostachys Lopr.

Spurious staminodes fringed at the top or prolonged into appendages.
Perianth-segments pointed. Flowers usually bent downwards.  17

17. Perianth-segments red or yellow, elliptical, hardened at the base, faintly
1-5-nerved. Shrubs or undershrubs.—Species 7. Central Africa to
Transvaal.  Centema Hook. fil.

Perianth-segments white, green or brown, lanceolate, stiff-leathery, usually 3-ribbed.—Species 30. Some of them yield a substitute for soap or are used in medicine. (Including Achyropsis Moq. and Pandiaka
Moq.) (Plate 41.)  Achyranthes L.

18. (10.) Stamens 1-2. Perianth-segments 3-5, membranous, woolly, 1-nerved.
Herbs.—Species 1. Tropics.  Nothosaerua Wight

Stamens 4-5.  19

19. Outer perianth-segments densely clothed with silky hairs, faintly 3-nerved.
Style slender. Shrubs.—Species 2. Northern East Africa (Somaliland).  Chionothrix Hook. fil.

Outer perianth-segments glabrous or scantily hairy, with 3 strong ribs.
Flowers greenish.—Species 15. Central and South East Africa. (Including
Psilostachys Hochst.)  Psilotrichum Blume

20. (9.) Spurious staminodes interposed between the stamens.  21

Spurious staminodes none.  26

21. Spurious staminodes small, entire. Ovary hairy. Either perianth clothed with long silky hairs or leaves alternate.  22

Spurious staminodes usually quadrate and fringed, more rarely narrow, but then perianth not clothed with long silky hairs and leaves (as nearly always) opposite.  23

22. Ovary with a horn-like appendage.—Species 6. South and Central Africa.
(Under Sericocoma Fenzl).  Cyphocarpa Lopr.

Ovary without a horn. (See 14.)  Sericocoma Fenzl

23. Partial inflorescences consisting of 3 fertile flowers without sterile ones.
Perianth hairy. Erect shrubs.—Species 4. South and Central Africa.
(Under Sericocoma Fenzl or Cyphocarpa Lopr.)  Sericocomopsis Schinz

Partial inflorescences consisting of fertile and sterile flowers, or of 2 fertile ones only.  24

24. Stem woody, climbing. Leaves ovate. Sterile flowers reduced to long tufts of hairs. Perianth glabrous. Spurious staminodes narrow, entire or toothed.—Species 2. Equatorial regions (Uganda and Cameroons).  Sericostachys Gilg & Lopr.

Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only, erect or ascending. Sterile flowers usually reduced to spines. Spurious staminodes usually broad and fringed.  25

25. Perianth-segments thickened and hardening at the base, yellow or red.
(See 17.)  Centema Hook. fil.

Perianth-segments not hardening.—Species 15. Tropical and South
Africa. Some are used in medicine. (Desmochaeta DC.)  Cyathula Lour.

26. (20.) Partial inflorescences consisting of 2 fertile flowers without sterile ones, and arranged in globose heads. Perianth white, with silky hairs.
Ovary hairy. Shrubs.—Species 1. German South-West Africa.
(Under Marcellia Baill., Sericocomopsis Schinz, or Sericocoma Fenzl).  Leucosphaera Gilg

Partial inflorescences consisting of fertile and sterile flowers, the latter sometimes reduced to bristles or spines.  27

27. Perianth-segments thickened and hardened at the base, yellow or red.
Ovary glabrous. (See 17.)  Centema Hook. fil.

Perianth-segments not hardening.  28

28. Sterile flowers consisting of hooked spines.—Species 6. Tropical and
South Africa.  Pupalia Juss.

Sterile flowers consisting of not hooked spines, bristles, or hairs.  29

29. Partial inflorescences consisting of 2 fertile and 2 sterile flowers, the latter reduced to bristles or spines. Ovary hairy. Herbs or undershrubs.—Species
10. Southern West Africa to Namaland. (Under Sericocoma
Fenzl).  Marcellia Baill.

Partial inflorescences consisting of 1-3 fertile and 4-6 sterile flowers.
Ovary glabrous.  30

30. Partial inflorescences consisting of 1-3 fertile and 4-6 sterile flowers, the latter reduced to branched spines. Collective inflorescence interrupted below. Style very short. Herbs.—Species 2. South Africa and
German South-West Africa. (Under Marcellia Baill. or Sericocoma
Fenzl).  Sericorema Lopr.

Partial inflorescences consisting of 3 fertile and 6 sterile flowers, the latter reduced to long simple spines or bristles. Style thread-shaped.  31

31. Sterile flowers elongating in the fruit into yellow spines. Herbs.—Species
1. German East Africa. (Under Marcellia Baill.)  Kentrosphaera Volk.

Sterile flowers elongating in the fruit into yellow or brown, rather soft bristles. Shrubs.—Species 3. East Africa. (Under Marcellia Baill.)  Dasysphaera Volk.

32. (4.) Perianth-segments spreading. Style short, with 2-4 stigmas. Fruit succulent, baccate. Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves ovate.—Species
1. Tropics.  Deeringia R. Br.

Perianth-segments erect. Fruit dry.  33

33. Fruit opening lengthwise. Style very short, with 2-3 stigmas. Filaments united at the base only. Leaves narrow. Shrubs.—Species 1.
Madagascar.  Henonia Moq.

Fruit opening by a lid. Herbs or undershrubs.  34

34. Spurious staminodes longer than the stamens, 2-lobed. Style short.
Leaves narrow.—Species 10. South Africa and southern Central
Africa.  Hermbstaedtia Reichb.

Spurious staminodes shorter than the stamens or wanting.—Species 30.
Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as vegetables or as textile, ornamental, medicinal, or fodder-plants. (Including Lestiboudesia
Thou.)  Celosia L.

SUBORDER PHYTOLACCINEAE

FAMILY 69. NYCTAGINACEAE

Leaves entire, toothed, or lobed. Flowers regular. Perianth simple, but often surrounded by a calyx-like involucre, 3-6-lobed, valvate or folded in the bud, persistent. Stamens with the filaments united below; connective narrow; anthers opening laterally. Ovary superior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, erect, inverted. Style 1, lateral. Fruit a nut, enclosed by the enlarged and hardened perianth. Seed albuminous.—Genera 5, species 30. (Plate 42.)

1. Seed with a straight embryo. Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite. Flowers in corymbs, inconspicuous. Involucre consisting of 2-3 small bracts.
Perianth tubular or campanulate, 4-5-toothed. Stamens 5-15.—Species
6. Tropical and South-east Africa. (Plate 42.) [Tribe
PISONIEAE.]  Pisonia Plum.

Seed with a curved embryo. Herbs or undershrubs, rarely shrubs or trees, but then leaves alternate or fascicled and flowers in fascicles. Stamens
1-10. [Tribe MIRABILEAE.]  2

2. Stem woody, spinous. Leaves alternate or fascicled. Flowers in fascicles.
Stamens 5-10, unequal. Ovary oblong. [Subtribe BOUGAINVILLEINAE.]  3

Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only, not spinous. Leaves opposite.
Flowers hermaphrodite. Ovary ovoid or globose. [Subtribe BOERHAVIINAE.]  4

3. Clusters of flowers surrounded by an involucre of 3 large, coloured bracts.
Fruit not winged. Leaves scattered.—Species 1. Naturalized in the tropics. Ornamental plant.  Bougainvillea Commers.

Clusters of flowers without an involucre. Fruit winged. Leaves fascicled.—Species
2. South Africa, southern West Africa, and Madagascar.
(Including Amphoranthus S. Moore).  Phaeoptilon Radlk.

4. Flowers large, surrounded by a calyx-like, 4-5-cleft involucre.—Species 1
(M. Jalapa L., marvel of Peru). Naturalized in various regions. An ornamental and medicinal plant.  Mirabilis L.

Flowers surrounded singly or in clusters by some early deciduous bracts.—Species
20. Some of them are used as vegetables or in medicine.  Boerhavia L.

FAMILY 70. CYNOCRAMBACEAE

Herbs. Leaves undivided, stipulate, the lower opposite, the upper alternate. Flowers monoecious, the male in groups of 2-4 opposite the leaves, the female in axillary clusters of 3. Perianth of the male flowers 2-3-parted, valvate in bud, of the female tubular, 2-4-toothed. Stamens 10-30, free; anthers linear. Ovary inferior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, basal, curved, with the micropyle turned downwards. Style simple, basal. Fruit a drupe. Seed with a curved embryo and cartilaginous albumen. (THELIGONACEAE, under CHENOPODIACEAE or URTICACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 1. North Africa. (Theligonum L.)  Cynocrambe Gaertn.

FAMILY 71. PHYTOLACCACEAE

Leaves alternate, entire, without stipules. Flowers in racemes or spikes, bracteolate. Perianth 4-5-parted, herbaceous or membranous, coloured, imbricate in bud, persistent in fruit. Stamens 3-33, hypogynous. Filaments free or united at the base. Anthers affixed at the back, opening by two longitudinal slits. Carpels superior. Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell or in each distinct carpel, basal, curved; micropyle turned downwards and outwards. Seed with an annular embryo surrounding the albumen.—Genera 5, species 15.

1. Style 1, undivided. Ovary 1-celled. Stamens 4. Anthers linear. Perianth
4-parted. Flowers in racemes. Leaves elliptical. Undershrubs.
[Tribe RIVINEAE.]  2

Styles 2 or more, free or nearly so. Perianth neatly always 5-parted.  3

2. Flowers irregular. Fruit nearly dry. Species 1. Tropics. Used medicinally. (Mohlana Mart.)  Hilleria Vell.

Flowers regular. Fruit succulent. Species 1. Naturalized in the
tropics. Used as an ornamental and a dye-plant.  Rivina Plum.

3. Ovary solitary, 1-celled. Stamens 3-5. Anthers ovate or globose.
Flowers in spikes. Leaves linear.—Species 4. South Africa and southern West Africa. (Including Lophiocarpus Turcz. and Wallinia
Moq.)  Microtea Swartz

Ovary solitary, 2-16-celled, or several separate ovaries. Stamens 6-33.
Leaves lanceolate, elliptical, or ovate. [Tribe PHYTOLACCEAE.]  4

4. Carpels 2. Stamens numerous. Fruit dry, capsular. Climbing shrubs.—Species
1. Madagascar.  Barbeuia Thouars

Carpels 5-16. Fruit succulent, baccate.—Species 8, five of them spontaneous in tropical and South Africa, the others cultivated and sometimes naturalized in various regions. They yield vegetables, dyes (chiefly from Ph. decandra L.), a substitute for soap, and medicaments; some are poisonous. “Poke.” (Including Pircunia Moq.)  Phytolacca L.

FAMILY 72. AIZOACEAE

Herbs or undershrubs, rarely shrubs. Leaves entire, toothed, or lobed. Flowers regular. Perianth usually simple. Stamens 3 or more. Ovary usually several-celled. Ovules curved or inverted. Fruit dry. Seeds with a curved embryo and a usually mealy albumen.—Genera 20, species 480. (FICOIDEAE or MESEMBRIACEAE). (Plate 43.)

1. Perianth divided to the base or nearly so, free from the ovary. [Subfamily
MOLLUGINOIDEAE.]  2

Perianth with a distinct tube sometimes adnate to the ovary, simple.
[Subfamily FICOIDEAE.]  11

2. Ovary solitary, 1-celled. Ovule 1, suspended from a basal funicle. Style 1.
Stamens 5. Perianth simple. Flowers in panicles. Leaves whorled.—Species
7. South Africa.  Adenogramma Reichb.

Ovary solitary but 2- or more-celled, or several separate ovaries.  3

3. Ovary 2-celled. Style 2-cleft. Inflorescence cymose. [Tribe LIMEAE.]  4

Ovary 3-7-celled, or 3-5 separate ovaries.  5

4. Perianth of 4 thin-membranous, fringed segments, surrounded by bracts.
Stamens 4, much exceeding the perianth. Fruit capsular. Flowers in false spikes. Leaves stipulate.—Species 1. South Africa.  Polpoda Presl

Perianth of 5 herbaceous entire segments, to which 3-5 petals are sometimes added. Stamens 5-10, not or scarcely exceeding the perianth.
Fruit separating in two nutlets. Leaves exstipulate.—Species 15.
South and Central Africa. (Including Semonvillea Gay).  Limeum L.

5. Carpels separate. Ovules solitary. Perianth simple. Flowers in cymes.
Leaves opposite.—Species 5. Some of them are used as vegetables or in medicine.  Giesekia L.

Carpels united in the ovarial portion.  6

6. Ovary-cells one-ovuled. Stamens 5. Perianth simple. Flowers in panicles.—Species
5. South Africa and southern West Africa.  Psammatropha Eckl. & Zeyh.

Ovary-cells several- or many-ovuled.  7

7. Petals or petaloid staminodes numerous, united at the base. Stamens numerous. Flowers conspicuous. Leaves exstipulate, fleshy.—Species
1  Orygia Forsk.

Petals none, but the stamens sometimes intermixed with staminodes.
Leaves stipulate.  8

8. Styles linear or slightly club-shaped. Stipules membranous, entire.  9

Styles obovate or wedge-shaped. Stipules fringed or sheath-like.  10

9. Ovules with a long funicle. Seeds crowned by an appendage of the funicle.
Pericarp firm.—Species 3. Used in medicine.  Glinus L.

Ovules with a short funicle. Seeds without an appendage of the funicle.
Pericarp thin. Stamens 3-10. Glabrous herbs with narrow leaves.—Species
10. Tropical and South Africa. Some species are used in medicine.  Mollugo L.

10. Disc cup-shaped, lobed or divided. Stamens 3-5. Stipules fringed.—Species
17. South Africa, Madagascar, St. Helena.  Pharnaceum L.

Disc none. Stipules sheath-like. Leaves thread-shaped.—Species 4.
South Africa.  Hyperstelis E. Mey.

11. (1.) Ovary superior. Petals none.  12

Ovary inferior. [Tribe MESEMBRIANTHEMEAE.]  18

12. Fruit transversely dehiscent, circumscissile. Leaves opposite. [Tribe
SESUVIEAE.]  13

Fruit longitudinally dehiscent, loculicidal or septicidal. [Tribe AIZOEAE.]  14

13. Ovary 1-2-celled. Ovules solitary or few, basal or subbasal. Pericarp thick in the upper part. Seed-coat wrinkled.—Species 10. Some of them are used as vegetables or in medicine. (Plate 43.)  Trianthema L.

Ovary 3-5- rarely 2-celled. Ovules numerous, axile. Pericarp thin.
Seed-coat smooth. Flowers red.—Species 6. Tropical and South
Africa. Some of them have edible seeds, or serve as vegetables. (Including
Diplochonium Fenzl and Halimus Rumph.)  Sesuvium L.

14. Stamens 4-5. Ovary-cells and styles 3.  15

Stamens 8 or more.  16

15. Ovary-cells 1-ovuled. Filaments long. Fruit roundish. Shrubs with silky hairs. Leaves all cauline, opposite or alternate, imbricate, triangular-ovate, without stipules. Flowers axillary, yellowish.—Species
1. South Africa (Cape Colony).  Plinthus Fenzl

Ovary-cells several-ovuled. Filaments short. Fruit linear-oblong. Glabrous herbs. Radical leaves lanceolate to ovate, with fringed stipules; cauline leaves whorled, filiform. Flowers in cymes, whitish-green.—Species
2. South Africa.  Coelanthum E. Mey.

16. Stamens numerous. Ovary 4-5-celled. Styles 4-5. Ovules 2 or more in each cell. Flowers yellow.—Species 12. Some of them have edible seeds.  Aizoon L.

Stamens 8-10, rarely more, but then ovary 2-celled and styles 2. Ovules
1 or 2 in each cell.  17

17. Stamens 10 or more. Ovary 2-celled. Styles 2. Ovules basal. Stem glabrous.—Species 4. South Africa.  Acrosanthes Eckl. & Zeyh.

Stamens 8, rarely 10, but then ovary 3-5-celled, styles 3-5, and stem hairy or warty. Ovules pendulous, 1 in each cell.—Species 20. South
Africa to Angola.  Galenia L.

18. (11.) Petals (or petaloid staminodes) numerous. Stamens numerous.
Ovary 4-20-celled, with many basal or parietal ovules. Fruit a capsule.—Species 330. Some of them have edible fruits or seeds or serve as vegetables, as ornamental or medicinal plants, or for making soda.  Mesembrianthemum L.

Petals (or petaloid staminodes) none. Ovary 2-8-celled with one pendulous ovule in each cell, or ovary 1-celled. Fruit a nut or drupe.
Leaves alternate.  19

19. Ovary 1-celled. Styles 4, two of them shorter than the others and without
a stigma.—Species 1. South-west Africa (Namaland).  Anisostigma Schinz

Ovary 2-8-, very rarely 1-celled. Styles as many as ovary-cells.—Species
35. Southern and Central Africa. One species (T. expansa Murr., New
Zealand spinach) is cultivated as a vegetable in various regions.  Tetragonia L.

SUBORDER PORTULACINEAE

FAMILY 73. PORTULACACEAE

Herbs or undershrubs, rarely shrubs. Flowers regular or nearly so, hermaphrodite. Sepals 2, free or united at the base, imbricate in the bud. Petals 4-6, free or united at the base, falling off very early. Stamens as many as and opposite the petals, or fewer, or more numerous. Ovary usually superior and 1-celled. Ovules basal or affixed to a free central placenta, curved, the micropyle lateral or inferior. Style 2-8-cleft or parted, rarely (Portulaca) undivided. Fruit a capsule or a nut. Seeds albuminous; embryo more or less curved.—Genera 6, species 35. (Plate 44.)

1. Ovary inferior or half-inferior. Ovules numerous. Fruit dehiscing by a lid.—Species 12. Some are used as vegetables, fodder-, medicinal, or ornamental plants. “Purslane.” [Tribe PORTULACEAE.]  Portulaca L.

Ovary superior. Fruit dehiscing by valves or indehiscent. [Tribe CALANDRINIEAE.]  2

2. Ovary 2-celled with 2 ovules in each cell. Style-branches 2. Stamens numerous. Shrubs.—Species 2. Madagascar.  Talinella Baill.

Ovary 1-celled with 1, 3, or many ovules. Style-branches 3.  3