1. Leaves compound: 2-3-foliolate or pinnate. Shrubs. Flowers hermaphrodite.
Stamens 5-10, free from the short gynophore. Anthers attached by the back.  2

Leaves simple: entire, toothed, lobed, or cleft.  3

2. Corona formed of numerous threads springing from the base of the calyx.
Petals 4-5, resembling the sepals. Stamens united at base. Style
3-5-cleft. Ovules numerous. Fruit a capsule. Stem climbing.
Leaflets in 1-2 pairs. Flowers in cymes.—Species 6. West Africa and Madagascar.  Deidamia Thouars

Corona none, but a disc within the stamens present. Petals 5, much exceeding the sepals. Fertile stamens 5, free, alternating with 5 staminodes.
Style simple. Ovules 10-12. Leaflets in 4-5 pairs. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1. East Africa.  Donaldsonia Bak.

3. Fertile stamens twice as many as the sepals or petals, 6-8. Corona formed of one row of threads. Ovary almost sessile, with 4 placentas and 4 subsessile stigmas. Shrubs.—Species 1. South-east Africa.  Schlechterina Harms

Fertile stamens as many as the sepals or petals.  4

4. Fertile stamens alternating with as many staminodes. Flowers hermaphrodite.
Petals 5. Style simple.  5

Fertile stamens not alternating with staminodes.  6

5. Calyx-tube saucer-shaped. Sepals ovate. Petals ovate, larger than the sepals. Corona formed of one row of threads. Staminodes tooth-shaped.
Ovary seated in the centre of the disc. Stigma entire. Climbing, tendril-bearing shrubs. Leaves oblong.—Species 1. Northern
West Africa.  Crossostemma Planch.

Calyx-tube bell- or funnel-shaped. Sepals oblong. Petals linear-oblong, much smaller than the sepals. Corona none. Staminodes awl-shaped.
Anthers affixed by the back, near the base, and surmounted by a prolonged, awl-shaped connective. Stamens free from the short gynophore.
Stigma 3-lobed. Fruit a berry. Erect herbs without tendrils.
Leaves linear-lanceolate.—Species 1. Southern West Africa.  Machadoa Welw.

6. Stamens adnate to the gynophore. Anthers affixed by the back, at first turned inwards, later on outwards. Styles 3 or style single and 3-cleft.
Corona present. Flowers hermaphrodite. Fruit a berry.—Species
8. One of them a native of Madagascar, the others cultivated and sometimes naturalized in the tropics and the Canary Islands. They yield edible fruits, drinks, and medicaments, and serve as ornamental plants. “Passion-flower.”  Passiflora L.

Stamens free from the gynophore, or no gynophore present. Anthers affixed by the base or between its lobes, opening inwards or laterally.
Fruit a capsule, rarely a berry.  7

7. Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube saucer-shaped. Corona triple. Style
3-cleft. Herbs or undershrubs. Flowers in 2-3-flowered cymes.—Species
15. Central and South Africa. (Including Basananthe Peyr.)  Tryphostemma Harv.

Flowers unisexual, rarely hermaphrodite or polygamous, but then without
a corona. Petals 4-6. Corona simple, double, or wanting. Leaves with 1-3 glands at the base.—Species 40. Tropical and South
Africa. Some are poisonous, others have edible fruits or are used in medicine. (Modecca Lam., including Echinothamnus Engl., Jaeggia
Schinz, Keramanthus Hook. fil., Ophiocaulon Hook. fil., and Paschanthus
Burch.) (Plate 106.)  Adenia Forsk.

FAMILY 162. ACHARIACEAE

Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided or lobed, without stipules. Flowers regular, 3-5-merous, monoecious, solitary or fascicled, axillary, the male sometimes in racemes. Sepals free, at least in the female flowers, imbricate or open in bud. Petals united below, imbricate in bud. Stamens as many as and alternating with the corolla-lobes, affixed to the corolla. Anthers adnate, opening inwards. Receptacle produced into a corona formed of 3-5 scales which are inserted at the base of the corolla and alternate with the stamens. Ovary superior, sessile or short-stalked, 1-celled, with 3-5 parietal placentas bearing 2 or more inverted ovules each. Style 3-10-cleft. Fruit a capsule. Seeds with a sometimes adnate aril, a pitted or wrinkled testa, a copious albumen, and a straight embryo.—Genera 3, species 3. South Africa. (Under PASSIFLORACEAE.)

1. Stem twining. Leaves 5-7-lobed. Flowers 4-5-merous, the male in racemes, the female solitary. Sepals of the male flowers linear. Stamens inserted at the base of the corolla. Anthers cohering. Corona formed of linear or oblong scales. Ovary short-stalked, oblong. Style-branches twice as many as placentas. Fruit linear. Aril adnate to the wrinkled testa.—Species 1. South Africa.  Ceratiosicyos Nees

Stem erect or underground. Leaves 3-lobed or undivided. Flowers solitary or fascicled. Stamens inserted in the tube or at the throat of the corolla. Aril free from the pitted testa.  2

2. Aboveground stem erect or ascending, woody at the base. Leaves 3-lobed.
Flowers 3-4-merous. Sepals oblong or ovate, free. Anthers with a broad connective. Ovary sessile, subglobose. Ovules few, usually 6-8. Style-branches twice as many as placentas.—Species 1.
Cape Colony.  Acharia Thunb.

Aboveground stem wanting. Leaves undivided. Flowers solitary, 5-merous.
Sepals linear, adnate to the corolla. Stamens inserted at the throat of the corolla. Anthers with a narrow connective. Ovary short-stalked, oblong. Ovules numerous. Style-branches as many as placentas. Fruit elliptical.—Species 1. Cape Colony.  Guthriea Bolus

SUBORDER PAPAYINEAE

FAMILY 163. CARICACEAE

Trees with a milky juice. Leaves alternate, usually crowded at the top of the stem, palmately lobed or divided, without stipules. Flowers, at least the male ones, panicled, 5-merous, unisexual or polygamous. Petals united below, with contorted aestivation. Stamens 10, inserted in the tube of the corolla. Anthers turned inwards, with a prolonged connective. Ovary superior, 1-or 5-celled. Ovules numerous, parietal, inverted. Style simple with 5 stigmas, or 5-to many-cleft. Fruit a berry. Seeds albuminous, with a double coat, succulent outside, woody within.—Genera 2, species 3. Tropics. (PAPAYACEAE, under PASSIFLORACEAE.)

Filaments free. Ovary 1-celled. Stigmas branched. Stem unarmed, simple or scantily branched.—Species 1 (C. Papaya L., papaw-tree).
Cultivated and sometimes naturalized in the tropics. It yields edible fruits, medicaments, and substitutes for soap and tobacco. The juice of the stem is poisonous, that of the leaves is used for rendering meat tender. (Papaya Tourn.)  Carica L.

Filaments united below. Ovary 5-celled. Stigmas undivided. Stem branched, prickly. Species 2. Central Africa. (Under Jacaratia
Marcgr.)  Cylicomorpha Urban

SUBORDER LOASINEAE

FAMILY 164. LOASACEAE

Shrubs. Leaves alternate, toothed or lobed, without stipules. Flowers in cymes, regular, 5-merous, hermaphrodite. Sepals open in bud, becoming wing-like after flowering. Petals shorter, free, concave, with imbricate or contorted aestivation. Stamens numerous, collected in 5 bundles opposite to the petals, alternating with glandular scales bearing each two staminodes on their inner surface. Ovary inferior, unequally 2-celled, the larger cell with two ovules, the smaller with one. Ovules descending, inverted. Style simple or 3-cleft. Fruit dry, indehiscent. Seeds exalbuminous; embryo straight.

Genus 1, species 1. South Africa.  Kissenia R. Br.

SUBORDER BEGONIINEAE

FAMILY 165. BEGONIACEAE

Leaves alternate, simple or palmately compound, usually oblique, stipulate. Flowers in cymes, monoecious. Perianth simple, of 2-5, very rarely 6-9 free segments. Stamens numerous. Anthers basifixed. Ovary inferior, completely or almost completely 2-6-celled, usually winged. Placentas attached to the inner angle of the cells or to the partitions. Ovules numerous, inverted. Styles 2-6, free or united at the base, usually cleft. Fruit a capsule, rarely a berry. Seeds very numerous, minute, with a striate or netted testa, exalbuminous. (Plate 107.)

Genus 1, species 110. Tropical and South Africa. Some species are used as ornamental or medicinal plants or as vegetables. (Including Mezierea
Gaud.)  Begonia L.

SUBORDER ANCISTROCLADINEAE

FAMILY 166. ANCISTROCLADACEAE

Climbing, tendril-bearing shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided, with small, deciduous stipules. Flowers in racemes or panicles, regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals unequal, imbricate in bud. Petals 5, united at the base, with contorted aestivation. Stamens 10, rarely 9. Filaments united at the base, short. Anthers basifixed, opening inwards by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, basal, half-inverted. Style simple with 3 stigmas or 3-cleft. Fruit a nut surmounted by the enlarged, wing-like sepals. Seeds with a thin testa, a repeatedly folded albumen, and a straight embryo. (Under DIPTEROCARPACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 2. West Africa.  Ancistrocladus Wall.

ORDER OPUNTIALES

FAMILY 167. CACTACEAE

Succulent plants with a thickened, usually jointed and spiny stem. Leaves mostly scale-like, often deciduous. Flowers solitary or in clusters, hermaphrodite. Perianth of 8 or more segments not distinctly differentiated into sepals and petals. Stamens numerous. Anthers opening inwards or laterally. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, with several parietal placentas. Ovules inverted. Style simple, with several stigmas. Fruit a berry. Seeds albuminous; embryo curved.—Genera 5, species 13.

1. Leaves well-developed. Stem not jointed. Spines not barbed. Perianth wheel-shaped. Ovules few, not enveloped by the short funicle. Cotyledons intertwisted.—Species 1. Naturalized in the Mascarene Islands.
A decorative and medicinal plant. [Subfamily PEIRESKIOIDEAE, tribe PEIRESKIEAE.]  Peireskia Plum.

Leaves scale-like or absent. Stem more or less copiously jointed. Cotyledons not intertwisted.  2

2. Plants destitute of barbed spines. Joints of the stem elongated. Ovules not enveloped by the funicle. [Subfamily CEREOIDEAE.]  3

Plants bearing barbed spines, at least upon the fruit. Joints of the stem short, more or less ovoid. Perianth regular, more or less wheel-shaped.
Ovules enveloped by the funicle. [Subfamily OPUNTIOIDEAE, tribe
OPUNTIEAE.]  4

3. Perianth funnel- or salver-shaped, with obviously united segments. Ovules numerous, on long funicles. Terrestrial plants.—Species 1. Cultivated and sometimes naturalized in various regions. A decorative plant with edible fruits. [Tribe ECHINOCACTEAE.]  Cereus Haw.

Perianth wheel-shaped, of free or nearly free segments. Ovules few, on short funicles. Epiphytes.—Species 7. Tropical and South Africa.
(Under Hariota Adans.) [Tribe RHIPSALIDEAE.]  Rhipsalis Gaertn.

4. Stamens much exceeding the perianth. Seed-coat leathery. Stem without spines. Flowers red.—Species 1 (N. coccinellifera S. Dyck). Cultivated and sometimes naturalized, especially in the Canary Islands.
It is used for rearing the cochineal insect and as a vegetable. (Under
Opuntia Haw.)  Nopalea S. Dyck

Stamens shorter than the perianth. Seed-coat hard.—Species 3. Cultivated, especially in North Africa. They yield edible fruits (prickly pear) from which also dyes, drinks, medicaments, and sugar are prepared; one species is used for rearing the cochineal insect.  Opuntia Haw.

ORDER MYRTIFLORAE

SUBORDER THYMELAEINEAE

FAMILY 168. GEISSOLOMATACEAE

Shrubs of heath-like appearance. Leaves opposite, undivided, stipulate. Flowers solitary, axillary, regular, 4-merous, hermaphrodite, surrounded by 6-8 unequal bracteoles. Calyx-tube short. Sepals petal-like, imbricate in bud. Petals none. Stamens 8, perigynous, unequal. Anthers versatile, short, with a narrow connective, opening inwards by two longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 4-celled. Ovules 2 in each cell, pendulous, inverted, the raphe turned outwards. Style 1. Stigmas 4. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds with a small outgrowth at the hilum, a smooth testa, a fleshy albumen, and a large straight embryo. (Under PENAEACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 2. South Africa.  Geissoloma Lindl. & Kunth

FAMILY 169. PENAEACEAE

Shrubs or undershrubs of heath-like appearance. Leaves opposite, entire, with sometimes gland-like stipules. Flowers solitary or in pairs in the axils of the leaves or in terminal spikes or heads, with 2 or 4 bracteoles, regular, 4-merous, hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube long. Sepals petal-like, red or yellow, valvate in bud. Petals none. Stamens 4, perigynous, alternating with the sepals. Anthers adnate, with a thickened connective, opening inwards by two longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, sessile, 4-celled. Ovules 2 or 4 in each cell, all or the lower ones ascending, inverted, the raphe turned outwards. Style simple with a 4-lobed or 4-parted stigma, or 4-cleft. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds exalbuminous. Embryo with very small cotyledons.—Genera 5, species 35. South Africa. (Plate 108.)

1. Ovules 4 in each ovary-cell, two of them ascending, two descending. Ovary and style cylindrical. Style simple. [Tribe ENDONEMEAE.]  2

Ovules 2, very rarely 4 in each ovary-cell, all ascending. Flowers in the
axils of crowded leaves or bracts. Bracteoles 2. [Tribe PENAEEAE.]  3

2. Flowers in the axils of coloured bracts, crowded in terminal spikes or heads. Bracteoles 2. Filaments much shorter than the anthers.
Anthers turned inwards in the bud; cells equalling the connective.—Species
1. Cape Colony. (Under Endonema Juss.)  Glischrocolla A. DC.

Flowers in the axils of foliage-leaves, not crowded. Bracteoles 4. Filaments nearly as long as or longer than the anthers. Anthers turned outwards in the bud; cells much shorter than the connective. Seeds with an outgrowth at the top.—Species 2. Cape Colony.  Endonema A. Juss.

3. Ovary and style 4-angled or 4-winged. Ovules 2 in each cell. Stamens very short.—Species 20. Cape Colony. (Including Stylapterus Juss.)  Penaea L.

Ovary and style cylindrical. Style simple.  4

4. Calyx-tube short, oblong-oval, somewhat longer than the sepals. Stamens slightly exceeding the calyx-tube; filaments short. Ovules 2 in each cell.—Species 6. Cape Colony. (Under Sarcocolla Kunth).  Brachysiphon A. Juss.

Calyx-tube long, cylindrical, much longer than the sepals. Stamens much exceeding the calyx-tube; filaments long. Anthers-cells almost equalling the connective.—Species 5. Cape Colony. Used as ornamental plants. (Plate 108.)  Sarcocolla Kunth

FAMILY 170. OLINIACEAE

Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, entire, without stipules. Flowers in terminal cymose inflorescences, regular, 4-5-merous. Calyx petaloid, white or red. Petals much smaller than the sepals, white, valvate in bud. Fertile stamens 4-5, opposite to the petals, usually alternating with scale-like staminodes. Anthers nearly sessile, with a large connective. Ovary inferior, 3-5-celled. Ovules 2-3 in the inner angle of each ovary-cell, inverted, the raphe turned outwards. Style simple; stigma entire. Fruit a drupe. Seeds exalbuminous; embryo with folded cotyledons. (Under LYTRHACEAE, MELASTOMATACEAE, or RHAMNACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 7. South and Central Africa. Some species yield timber.  Olinia Thunb.

FAMILY 171. THYMELAEACEAE

Leaves entire, without stipules. Flowers 4-5-merous. Sepals petaloid. Petals usually present. Stamens as many as and opposite to the petals, 4, or twice as many, 8 or 10. Anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1-5-celled. Ovule 1 in each cell, pendulous, inverted, with a ventral raphe. Style simple; stigma entire. Fruit a drupe or a nut. Embryo large, straight.—Genera 17, species 250. (Plate 109.)

1. Receptacle flat. Sepals free. Petals none, but 4-10 scales placed singly
or in pairs opposite to the sepals. Stamens 8-10, hypogynous. Ovary
4-5-celled. Low trees. Leaves alternate, dotted beneath. Flowers solitary or fascicled, axillary, white.—Species 7. West Africa. (Including
Makokoa Baill.) [Subfamily OCTOLEPIDIOIDEAE, tribe
OCTOLEPIDEAE.]  Octolepis Oliv.

Receptacle concave. Sepals united. Stamens perigynous. Ovary 1-2-celled.  2

2. Ovary 2-celled, surrounded by a disc. Petals none. Stamens 8-10.
Fruit a drupe. Shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers in umbels, yellowish-green.—Species 10. Tropical and South Africa. [Subfamily
PHALERIOIDEAE, tribe PEDDIEAE.]  Peddiea Harv.

Ovary 1-celled. [Subfamily THYMELAEOIDEAE.]  3

3. Petals present, usually smaller than the sepals and 2-parted, sometimes united into a ring.  4

Petals none, but sometimes 8 or more scales present, inserted below the stamens, and usually alternating with them. Stamens 8-10.  9

4. Calyx-tube constricted and jointed above the ovary, the upper part falling off after flowering. Fruit with a membranous exocarp. [Tribe
GNIDIEAE.]  5

Calyx-tube not jointed, persisting in fruit or falling off as a whole. Fruit with a hard or fleshy exocarp. Stamens 8-10. [Tribe DICRANOLEPIDEAE.]  6

5. Stamens 4, inserted in the upper part of the calyx-tube, nearly sessile, with a broadened connective. Petals thick-fleshy, surrounded by hairs. Shrubs or undershrubs. Leaves small, leathery. Flowers solitary or in pairs in the axils of the leaves.—Species 25. South and
Central Africa.  Struthiola L.

Stamens 8 or 10, in two whorls very distant from each other and inserted in the upper part of the calyx-tube and at the throat. Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs. Flowers in heads, more rarely arranged spike-like in the axils of the upper leaves.—Species 125. Southern and tropical Africa.
Some species are used as ornamental, medicinal, or textile plants.
(Including Arthrosolen Mey. and Lasiosiphon Frees)  Gnidia L.

6. Petals united into a ring. Stamens 10. Shrubs.  7

Petals free, 2-partite. Leaves herbaceous.  8

7. Petals united into a nearly entire ring. Ovary short-stalked, surrounded at the base by a cup-shaped or slashed disc. Flowers in few-flowered axillary clusters or in short terminal racemes.—Species 6. Central
Africa to Delagoa Bay.  Synaptolepis Oliv.

Petals united into a slashed ring. Ovary sessile. Disc none. Flowers in long-stalked spikes or heads.—Species 2. Madagascar and Comoro
Islands.  Stephanodaphne Baill.

8. Flowers 4-merous. Petals thickish, almost erect. Staminal whorls remote from each other. Anthers nearly sessile, slightly exserted. Disc
none. Ovary sessile, hairy. Style included. Shrubs. Leaves opposite.
Flowers in terminal umbels.—Species 1. East and South-east
Africa.  Englerodaphne Gilg

Flowers 5-merous. Petals thin, spreading. Staminal whorls approximate.
Anthers more or less exserted. Disc cup-shaped. Ovary short-stalked.
Style long. Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate. Flowers solitary or in pairs, axillary.—Species 25. Central Africa.  Dicranolepis Planch.

9. (3.) Stamens 10, inserted at or below the middle of the long, narrowly funnel-shaped, not jointed calyx-tube at the same level. Filaments short, unequal in length. Anthers included. Corona none. Disc ring- or saucer-shaped. Ovary sessile. Style short. Twining shrubs.
Leaves opposite or nearly so, leathery. Flowers in axillary clusters, greenish-yellow.—Species 2. West Africa. [Tribe CRATEROSIPHONEAE.]  Craterosiphon Engl. & Gilg

Stamens inserted at the throat or the upper part of the calyx-tube; in the latter case calyx-tube wide or jointed. [Tribe DAPHNEAE.]  10

10. Calyx-tube bearing in its upper part a corona of 8 or more scales, jointed above the ovary, the lower part persistent in fruit. Flowers 4-merous.
Filaments thread-like. Anthers exserted. Ovary sessile. Fruit dry.
Shrubs. Leaves small, leathery, sometimes needle-shaped.  11

Calyx-tube without a corona, but sometimes the ovary surrounded at the base by a disc or by several glands.  12

11. Flowers solitary, white or reddish. Sepals equal in length. Corona inserted in the middle of the calyx-tube.—Species 5. South Africa.
Some are used as ornamental plants.  Cryptadenia Meissn.

Flowers in fascicles or heads. Corona inserted next to the throat of the calyx, and formed of 8 scales which alternate with the stamens.—Species
20. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Plate 109.)  Lachnaea L.

12. Calyx-tube constricted and jointed above the ovary, the upper part, rarely the whole calyx, falling off after flowering.  13

Calyx-tube not jointed, persistent in fruit or falling off as a whole, the segments sometimes falling off singly. Filaments and style short.
Flowers 4-merous.  16

13. Filaments very short. Staminal whorls widely separated. Disc minute or wanting. (See 5.)  Gnidia L.

Filaments long. Staminal whorls approximate, rarely somewhat distant, but then disc distinctly developed. Shrubs.  14

14. Flowers 5-merous. Segments of the calyx much shorter than the tube.
Disc saucer-shaped, lobed. Ovary hairy. Fruit dry. Seeds without albumen. Flowers in terminal heads.—Species 6. South Africa and Madagascar. Some are used as ornamental plants.  Dais L.

Flowers 4-merous. Segments of the calyx nearly as long as the tube.
Disc none. Ovary glabrous. Seeds with a copious albumen. Leaves opposite. Flowers solitary and axillary, or in terminal spikes.  15

15. Fruit fleshy. Calyx-tube short, urn-shaped.—Species 1. South Africa.  Chymococca Meissn.

Fruit dry.—Species 7. South Africa. Some species yield dyes or serve as ornamental plants.  Passerina L.

16. Disc hypogynous, consisting of 1-4, usually 4, free or partly united, narrow, almost thread-shaped scales. Calyx-tube long; segments deciduous. Ovary hairy. Shrubs or trees. Flowers in terminal racemes or spikes, hermaphrodite.—Species 1. Naturalized in the
Mascarene Islands. Ornamental plant.  Wikstroemia Endl.

Disc minute and ring-shaped, or wanting.  17

17. Fruit a drupe. Flowers hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube long. Stigma large.
Shrubs or trees. Flowers in heads, racemes, or panicles.—Species 4.
North Africa. Poisonous plants yielding bast-fibres, tanning and dyeing materials, and medicaments; they also serve as ornamental plants.  Daphne L.

Fruit a nut. Disc none. Ovary short-stalked. Herbs, undershrubs, or shrubs. Leaves alternate. Flowers solitary or fascicled, axillary.—Species
10. North Africa. Some species are used as medicinal or fibre-plants.  Thymelaea Endl.

FAMILY 172. ELAEAGNACEAE

Shrubs or trees, covered with scaly hairs. Leaves alternate, entire, without stipules. Flowers in axillary fascicles or racemes, 4-merous, very rarely 5-8-merous, hermaphrodite or polygamous. Calyx white or yellow within, valvate in bud. Petals none. Stamens perigynous, as many as and alternate with the sepals. Filaments very short. Anthers attached at the back, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, but tightly enclosed by the concave receptacle, 1-celled, with a single erect and inverted ovule. Style simple, long; stigma entire, capitate. Fruit a nut enclosed by the succulent calyx-tube. Seed with a hard coat and scanty albumen or without albumen; embryo straight, with a minute radicle and thick, fleshy cotyledons.

Genus 1, species 2. Naturalized in North Africa and the Island of Mauritius.
Ornamental plants yielding timber and medicaments. “Oleaster.”  Elaeagnus L.

SUBORDER MYRTINEAE

FAMILY 173. LYTHRACEAE

Leaves entire, usually stipulate. Flowers 3-8-merous, hermaphrodite. Sepals valvate in the bud. Petals inserted at the throat of the calyx, usually crumpled in the bud, sometimes absent. Stamens nearly always inserted below the petals. Anthers fixed by the back. Ovary superior, completely or incompletely 2-6-celled. Ovules numerous in each cell, attached at the inner angle, ascending, inverted, with ventral raphe. Style simple or wanting; stigma entire or 2-lobed. Fruit dry. Seeds exalbuminous; embryo straight.—Genera 12, species 90. (Plate 110.)

1. Partitions of the ovary incomplete above; placentas not continuing into
the style. [Tribe LYTHREAE.]  2

Partitions of the ovary complete; placentas continuing into the style.
Flowers regular. [Tribe NESAEEAE.]  9

2. Flowers distinctly irregular. Sepals 6. Petals 6-7, unequal. Stamens
10-14, usually 11. Disc present. Placenta finally protruding from the bursting ovary and calyx-tube. Leaves opposite or whorled.—Species
1. Naturalized in the Mascarene Islands. Ornamental plant.  Cuphea P. Browne

Flowers regular or almost so.  3

3. Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only. Leaves not dotted. Seeds not winged.  4

Stem woody. Leaves opposite, marked with black dots, rarely without dots, but then seeds with a thick wing. Style long.  7

4. Fruit indehiscent, membranous, not striate. Seeds very numerous.
Flowers 6-merous. Calyx-tube hemispherical or broad-campanulate, with appendages at the apex. Sepals herbaceous. Stamens as many as the sepals. Ovary 2-celled. Style very short. Flowers solitary, axillary, with whitish bracteoles.—Species 1. North Africa. Used as a vegetable.  Peplis L.

Fruit dehiscing by 2-4 valves or bursting transversely or irregularly; in the latter cases flowers 4-merous and cymose.  5

5. Fruit bursting transversely or irregularly, membranous, not striate.
Seeds very numerous. Flowers 4-merous. Sepals herbaceous. Stamens as many or twice as many as the sepals. Flowers in axillary cymes, with whitish bracteoles.—Species 15. Tropical and South Africa and
Egypt. Some are used medicinally.  Ammania L.

Fruit dehiscing longitudinally in 2-4 valves.  6

6. Fruit marked with dense, sometimes very faint, transverse veins. Sepals usually membranous. Stamens as many as the sepals or fewer. Glabrous plants. Flowers solitary or umbellate and axillary, or in terminal spikes or racemes, bracteolate.—Species 20. Tropical and South
Africa. (Including Quartinia Endl., Rhyacophila Hochst., and Suffrenia
Bellardi).  Rotala L.

Fruit without transverse veins. Calyx-tube tubular, rarely campanulate, with appendages at the top. Flowers solitary or paired in the leaf-axils, rarely in spikes or racemes of cymes (false whorls).—Species 8.
North, East, and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants.  Lythrum L.

7. Stamens 6. Calyx-tube top-shaped. Sepals membranous. Ovary nearly completely 2-celled. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1. South-east
Africa.  Galpinia N. E. Brown

Stamens 12-18. Flowers solitary or in racemes.  8

8. Calyx-tube tubular. Petals small. Stamens 12. Ovary nearly completely
2-celled. Fruit bursting irregularly or remaining closed. Seeds
not winged. Flowers in racemes.—Species 2. East Africa and
Madagascar. They yield tanning and dyeing material and serve as ornamental plants.  Woodfordia Salisb.

Calyx-tube campanulate or cupular. Ovary very incompletely 3-4-celled.
Fruit opening transversely. Seeds with a thick wing. Flowers solitary or in pairs in the leaf-axils.—Species 2. Madagascar and
East Africa. They serve as vegetables.  Pemphis Forst.

9. (1.) Stamens 5-6, opposite to the petals and adnate to their base. Calyx-tube expanded. Sepals lanceolate. Ovary 2-celled. Ovules in a single row. Low trees. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1. South-east
Africa (Natal).  Rhynchocalyx Oliv.

Stamens 4-23, inserted below the petals, or petals wanting. Ovules in two or more rows. Herbs, undershrubs, or shrubs.  10

10. Calyx-tube top- or saucer-shaped, without appendages. Sepals 4. Stamens inserted near the petals, singly or in clusters of 2-3 opposite the sepals. Fruit bursting irregularly or remaining closed. Seed-coat with a spongy thickening at the top. Shrubs. Leaves opposite. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1 (L. inermis L.). Tropical and North Africa.
Yields a dye (henna) and is used in perfumery and medicine. (Including
Rotantha Bak.)  Lawsonia L.

Calyx-tube bell-, urn-, or cup-shaped. Sepals 4-8. Stamens remote from the petals, or petals wanting. Fruit opening by 4 valves or by a lid.
Seed-coat not specially thickened. Flowers in cymes or umbels.  11

11. Calyx-tube winged. Sepals 4. Petals none. Stamens 4, alternating with the sepals. Anthers finally kidney-shaped. Fruit opening by
4 valves. Style persisting upon the placentas. Shrubs. Leaves opposite. Flowers in axillary, 2-4-flowered umbels.—Species 1.
Island of Mauritius.  Tetrataxis Hook. fil.

Calyx-tube not winged. Fruit at first opening by a small lid, later on splitting towards the base. Style persisting upon a valve or falling off.
Herbs, undershrubs, or low shrubs. Flowers in sometimes head-like cymes.—Species 40. Tropical and South Africa. (Plate 110.)  Nesaea Comm.

FAMILY 174. SONNERATIACEAE

Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, not dotted, without stipules. Flowers solitary, without bracteoles, regular. Sepals 6-7, fleshy, valvate in bud. Petals 6-7, linear, occasionally wanting. Stamens numerous, perigynous. Filaments bent inwards in the bud. Anthers fixed by the back, kidney-shaped, opening inwards by longitudinal slits. Ovary almost superior, with 10-20 somewhat incomplete cells not reaching the top. Ovules very numerous, attached to the partitions, inverted. Style simple; stigma entire. Fruit succulent, indehiscent or bursting irregularly. Seeds curved, exalbuminous, with a hard coat and a straight embryo. (BLATTIACEAE, under LYTHRACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 1. East Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Yields edible fruits, condiments, and medicaments. (Blatti Adans.)  Sonneratia L. f.

FAMILY 175. PUNICACEAE

Trees or shrubs. Leaves undivided, without stipules. Flowers solitary or in clusters of 2-5 at the ends of the branches, regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 5-8, red, fleshy, valvate in bud. Petals as many, red or yellow, imbricate and crumpled in the bud. Stamens numerous, curved inwards in the bud. Anthers fixed by the back, opening inwards by longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior or half-inferior, with several cells, which are usually arranged in 2-3 whorls placed one above the other. Ovules numerous, at first basal, afterwards parietal, inverted. Style simple; stigma 1. Fruit a berry. Seeds exalbuminous, with an outer fleshy and an inner horny coat; embryo straight, with twisted cotyledons. (GRANATEAE, under LYTHRACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 2. One of them growing wild in the Island of Socotra, the other one (P. Granatum L., pomegranate) cultivated and naturalized in northern and tropical Africa. The latter serves as an ornamental plant and yields wood, tanning and dyeing materials, medicaments, and edible fruits, from which also a drink is prepared.  Punica L.

FAMILY 176. LECYTHIDACEAE

Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided, without stipules. Flowers solitary or racemose, hermaphrodite. Sepals 2-5. Petals 4-6, adnate to the staminal tube, imbricate in bud, or wanting. Stamens numerous, united at the base, curved in the bud. Anthers versatile, usually basifixed, opening by longitudinal slits. Disc within the stamens, ring-shaped. Ovary inferior, 2-20-celled, with 2 or more inverted ovules in each cell. Style simple. Fruit indehiscent. Seeds exalbuminous.—Genera 4, species 15. Tropical and South-east Africa. (Under MYRTACEAE.) (Plate 111.)

1. Petals and staminodes absent. Sepals 3-5, usually 4. Stamens almost free. Disc obscure. Ovules numerous in each cell, inserted in a vertical ring round a shield-shaped placenta, horizontal, the micropyle turned outwards. Stigmas 4. Fruit a drupe. Leaves clustered.
Flowers solitary, axillary.—Species 4. Madagascar and Mascarenes.
Yielding timber. [Subfamily FOETIDIOIDEAE.]  Foetidia Comm.

Petals or staminodes present. Stamens obviously united at the base.
Disc distinct. Ovules inserted in rows on slightly thickened placentas, horizontal with the micropyle turned inwards, or ascending, or pendulous.
Flowers racemose, rarely solitary, but then leaves scattered.  2

2. Sepals 5. Petals 0. Stamens and staminodes united to different heights, in 4 concentric rows, the inner row partly fertile, the rest barren. Anthers
1-celled. Disc thick. Ovary 5-20-celled. Style short; stigmas 5.
Seeds 5 or more. Flowers solitary or 2-3 together, axillary. Leaves scattered.—Species 5. Central Africa. They yield timber and edible fruits. [Subfamily NAPOLEONOIDEAE.]  Napoleona Beauv.

Sepals 2-4. Petals 4-6. Stamens all fertile or the innermost barren, all united to the same height. Anthers 2-celled. Disc ring-shaped.

Ovary 2-4-celled. Style long; stigma 1, entire or 2-4-lobed. Seeds
1-4. Flowers in racemes. Leaves clustered. [Subfamily PLANCHONIOIDEAE.]  3

3. Ovary long, winged. Ovules inserted along the inner angle of the cells or in the middle of the partitions. Fruit a nut. Embryo with distinct cotyledons. Bracteoles in the middle of the long pedicels.—Species 2.
West Africa.  Petersia Welw.

Ovary short, ovate. Ovules suspended from the apex of the inner angle of the cells. Fruit a one-seeded drupe. Embryo undivided. Bracteoles at the base of the pedicels.—Species 5. Madagascar and neighbouring islands. East and South-east Africa. They yield timber, tanning bark, vegetables, oil, fish-poison, and medicaments, and serve also as ornamental plants. (Plate 111.)  Barringtonia Forst.

FAMILY 177. RHIZOPHORACEAE

Trees or shrubs. Leaves undivided. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or polygamous. Sepals valvate in bud. Petals free, induplicate-valvate in bud, usually lobed or fringed. Stamens perigynous or epigynous, twice as many as the petals or more, rarely (Anisophyllea) some of them barren. Anthers opening inwards by longitudinal slits. Ovary completely or incompletely 2-6-celled. Ovules 1-2 in the inner angle of each cell, pendulous, inverted. Seeds usually germinating in the still attached fruit.—Genera 10, species 45. Tropical and South Africa. (Plate 112.)

1. Styles 3-4. Ovary inferior, with 1 ovule in each cell. Stamens 6-8, several of them sometimes barren. Flowers 3-4-merous, polygamous.
Fruit a drupe. Seeds exalbuminous. Leaves alternate, exstipulate.
[Subfamily ANISOPHYLLOIDEAE.]  2

Style 1. Ovary with 2 ovules in each cell. Fruit a berry or a capsule.
Seeds albuminous. Leaves opposite or whorled, stipulate. [Subfamily
RHIZOPHOROIDEAE.]  3

2. Flowers in few-flowered spikes or racemes. Fruit 1-seeded.—Species 7.
Tropics. They yield timber and edible fruits.  Anisophyllea R. Br.

Flowers in spikes arranged in racemes. Style ovate. Fruit 2-4-seeded.—Species
1. Equatorial West Africa (Gaboon). Yields edible, oily seeds.  Poga Pierre

3. Ovary inferior or half-inferior. Placentas usually passing into the style.
Ovules without appendages. Petals yellow, brown, red, or greenish.
Stamens twice as many as the petals. [Tribe GYNOTROCHEAE.]  4

Ovary superior or nearly so. Placentas not reaching to the base of the style. Ovules with appendages. Petals 4-6, toothed or split, usually white. [Tribe MACARISIEAE.]  7

4. Ovary inferior. Receptacle (flower-tube) deeply concave, bell- or funnel-shaped, distinctly prolonged above the ovary. Petals 5-14. Calyx
crowning the fruit.  5

Ovary half-inferior. Receptacle slightly concave, saucer-shaped, scarcely prolonged above the ovary. Petals 4-6. Calyx at the base of the fruit.
Seeds germinating in the still attached fruit. Plants with aerial roots.
Flowers with an involucre of two bracteoles, arranged in cymes.  6

5. Receptacle funnel-shaped, prolonged above the ovary into a long tube.
Flowers 8-14-merous. Petals red or brown, 2-lobed, with thread-like appendages. Antesepalous stamens curved sideways at the base, becoming opposite to the antepetalous. Disc obscurely lobed. Ovary
2-4-celled. Seeds germinating in the still attached fruit. Flowers solitary.—Species 1. Tropical and South-east Africa. Yields timber and bark used for tanning and dyeing.  Bruguiera Lam.

Receptacle bell-shaped, prolonged above the ovary into a short tube.
Flowers 5-8-merous. Petals yellowish, irregularly lobed. Antesepalous stamens not opposite to the antepetalous. Disc usually double. Fruit 1- or 3-6-celled. Seeds germinating after the fruit has fallen. Flowers with an involucre of two bracteoles, arranged in cymes.—Species 2. Madagascar.  Carallia Roxb.

6. Flowers 4-merous. Petals entire, yellowish or green. Anthers with numerous cells (pollen-sacks). Disc obscurely lobed. Ovary 2-celled.
Stigma 2-lobed.—Species 2. Tropical and South-east Africa. They yield timber, tanning and dyeing materials, and medicaments. “Mangrove.”  Rhizophora L.

Flowers 5-6-merous. Petals 2-lobed, brownish. Anthers with 4 cells.
Disc deeply lobed. Ovary 3-celled above, 1-celled below. Stigma entire.—Species 1. Tropics. Yields timber and tanning bark.  Ceriops Arn.

7. Ovary 2-4-celled, adnate to the receptacle by the broad base. Leaves opposite.  8

Ovary 5-celled, sessile or short-stalked. Stamens 10. Flowers 5-merous, in few-flowered inflorescences. Seeds winged.  9

8. Disc distinctly 8-15-lobed. Stamens 10-15. Stigma entire. Placentas reaching the middle of the ovary only. Flowers in many-flowered inflorescences, frequently in glomerules.—Species 10. Tropical and
South-east Africa. (Under Cassipourea Aubl.)  Dactylopetalum Benth.

Disc not distinctly lobed. Stamens 10-30. Stigma 2-4-lobed. Placentas reaching the base of the style. Fruit fleshy. Seeds with an aril.
Flowers with an involucre of two bracteoles, solitary or in few-flowered inflorescences.—Species 18. Tropical and South-east Africa. (Plate
112.)  Weihea Spreng.

9. Ovary sessile. Tall trees. Leaves whorled.—Species 2. West Africa.  Anopyxis Pierre

Ovary short-stalked. Low trees. Leaves opposite.—Species 3. Madagascar.  Macarisia Thouars

FAMILY 178. ALANGIACEAE

Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, undivided, without stipules. Flowers in axillary cymes, regular, hermaphrodite. Calyx 6-10-toothed. Petals 6-10, free or slightly cohering at the base, narrow, valvate in bud. Stamens as many as the petals and alternate with them, or more. Filaments short, free or nearly so, hairy. Anthers long, adnate, opening inwards or laterally by two longitudinal slits. Disc cushion-shaped. Ovary inferior, 1-celled, rarely 2-celled. Ovule 1 in each cell, pendulous, inverted, with a ventral raphe. Style simple; stigma lobed. Fruit a drupe. Seed with a large central embryo and fleshy albumen. (Under CORNACEAE.)

Genus 1, species 2. Tropics. Used medicinally. (Including Marlea Roxb. and Stylidium Lour.)  Alangium Lam.

FAMILY 179. COMBRETACEAE

Trees or shrubs, rarely undershrubs. Leaves entire, without stipules. Flowers in spikes heads or panicles, regular or nearly so, 4-6-merous. Petals free or wanting. Stamens usually twice as many as the sepals. Anthers versatile. Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior, 1-celled. Ovules 2-3, rarely 4-6, pendulous from the apex of the cavity, inverted. Style simple. Fruit a one-seeded drupe or nut, rarely incompletely dehiscent, usually angled or winged. Seeds exalbuminous.—Genera 12, species 330. Tropical and South Africa. (Plate 113.)

1. Ovary half-inferior. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Ovules 2, with a short funicle. Fruit dorsally compressed, dry, indehiscent. Embryo with very thick, almost hemispherical cotyledons.—Species 2. West Africa.
[Subfamily STREPHONEMATOIDEAE.]  Strephonema Hook. fil.

Ovary inferior. Ovules usually with a long funicle. Fruit winged, angled, laterally compressed, or terete. Embryo with flat, folded, or twisted cotyledons. [Subfamily COMBRETOIDEAE.]  2

2. Flowers with bracteoles adnate to the ovary, arranged in spikes or racemes.
Sepals persistent. Petals 5. Cotyledons twisted. [Tribe LAGUNCULARIEAE.]  3

Flowers without bracteoles. Sepals deciduous, rarely persistent, but then flowers in heads.  4

3. Leaves opposite. Flowers sessile. Stamens 10. Ovules 2; funicle short.—Species
1. Coasts of West Africa. Yields timber, tanning and dyeing materials, and medicaments.  Laguncularia Gaertn.

Leaves alternate. Flowers stalked. Ovules 4-6; funicle long.—Species
1. Coast of East Africa and Madagascar.  Lumnitzera Willd.

4. Petals 4-5, rarely none; in this case, as usually, leaves opposite. Flowers mostly hermaphrodite. Funicle usually tubercled. Cotyledons flat or folded, more rarely twisted. [Tribe COMBRETEAE.]  5

Petals none. Leaves alternate, rarely almost opposite. Flowers mostly polygamous. Sepals deciduous. Funicle usually smooth. Cotyledons
twisted. Trees or erect shrubs. [Tribe TERMINALIEAE.]  10

5. Petals absent. Sepals 5.  6

Petals present, sometimes minute, rarely absent, but then sepals 4. 7

6. Calyx campanulate, divided down to the ovary, wing-like in fruit. Cotyledons twisted. Climbing shrubs. Flowers in panicled spikes.—Species
1. Madagascar.  Calycopteris Lam.

Calyx tubular-campanulate, lobed or cleft, net-veined, corolla-like, deciduous.
Fruit woody. Cotyledons flat. Flowers in heads or short spikes.—Species 9. Madagascar. (Under Combretum L.)  Calopyxis Tul.

7. Flowers ebracteate, arranged in heads which are subtended by 4 involucral bracts. Sepals persistent. Petals 5, strap-shaped. Stamens 10.
Ovules 4-6. Fruit elongate, spindle-shaped, obscurely 5-angled, clothed with long hairs. Erect shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, dotted.—Species
1. Central Africa. Used medicinally.  Guiera Adans.

Flowers bracteate, arranged in spikes or racemes. Sepals deciduous.
Fruit winged or angled.  8

8. Flowers polygamous (hermaphrodite and male). Fruit 2-, rarely 3-4-winged, indehiscent. Trees or erect shrubs.—Species 5. Central
Africa to Delagoa Bay. (Under Combretum L.)  Pteleopsis Engl.

Flowers hermaphrodite. Fruit 4-5-winged or 4-5-angled.  9

9. Calyx-tube above the ovary very long and thin, filiform; style adnate to it.
Ovules 3-4. Flowers 5-merous. Fruit dehiscing at the top along the
5 angles. Climbing shrubs. Lower leaves alternate, upper opposite.—Species
3. Tropical and South-east Africa. Used as ornamental or medicinal plants.  Quisqualis L.

Calyx-tube not elongate-filiform. Ovules 2-3; funicles equal in length.
Fruit indehiscent. Leaves opposite or whorled, sometimes intermixed with alternate ones.—Species 230. Tropical and South Africa. Some species yield timber, gum, tanning and dyeing materials, arrow-poison, medicaments, and fatty seeds; several serve as ornamental plants.
(Including Cacoucia Aubl., Campylochiton Welw., Campylogyne Welw., and Poivrea Comm.) (Plate 113.)  Combretum L.

10. (4.) Flowers and fruits in globose heads. Receptacle (calyx-tube) prolonged above the ovary into a stalk. Calyx-lobes 5, reflexed. Ovules 2.
Fruits erect or spreading, flat, 2-winged, produced into a long beak; pericarp corky. Shrubs.—Species 1. Central Africa. Yields timber, dyes, a substitute for soap, and medicaments.  Anogeissus Wall.

Flowers and fruits in sometimes ovate, usually panicled spikes. Receptacle not much prolonged. Fruit not long-beaked but sometimes acuminate; pericarp leathery or drupaceous.  11

11. Fruits crowded in a cone, bent downwards, flat, 2-winged, acuminate; pericarp leathery. Flowers in short panicled spikes, 5-merous. Calyx-lobes erect. Ovules 2.—Species 2. Central Africa. They yield timber, tanning materials, and medicaments.  Conocarpus Gaertn.