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N at. O r b . X X V I I I . C U C U R B IT A C E Æ , Juss.
Gen. I . SICYOS, JÜ.
Flores unisexuales. E l . masc. racemosi. Calyx campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Corolla calyce continua,
5-loba. Stamina filamentis in columnam coalitis ; antlieris liberis, 1-locnlaribus. E l . foem. capitati,
umbellati V . solitarii, pedunculati. C a /y a i limbus campanulatus, 5-dcntatus. 1-loculare; ovulo
solitario ; stylo 3-fido. Fructus ovatus, coriaceus, liispidus v. spinosus.
Prostrate or climbing, alternate-leaved herbs, with tendrils from the axils of the leaves, and axillary unisexual
flowers. Male flowers racemose. Calyx campanulate, five-toothed. Corolla five-lobed, continuous with the calyx.
Stamens three to five, their filaments united into a column ; anthers free, one-celled. Female flowers capitate on an
axillary peduncle, solitary or umbellate. Calyx-tube adnate ivith the (one-celled, one-ovuled) ovary ; limb campanulate,
free, five-toothed. trifid. Fruit a coriaceous, hispid or spinous, ovate, one-celled n u t; seed one, pendulous.—
A small, chiefiy western American genus, of which the present is the only one of the large Natural Order
to which it belongs, found in Tasmania or New Zealand. The species of Sicyos are variable, and some of them very
widely spread, especially the present, which is found in Tasmania, Australia, Norfolk Island, the United States,
Mexico, and throughout South America to Bonaria and South Brazil.—A few species inhabit the Pacific Islands,
and with the present are the only extra-American ones known. (Name, o-ikuos, a cucumber ; from the habit of this
plant, which is allied to that genus.)
1. Sicyos angulatus, L in n . ; pubescens v. g lab ratas, foliis late reniformi-cordatis ovato-cordatisve varie
3 - 7 -lobatis, lobis acutis acuminatisve dentatis basi 2-lobis sinn rotu n d a to , cirrbis 3 -5-fidis, fl. $ cymoso-
racemosisve glanduloso-pilosis glabratisve, fructibus ovatis bispido-ecbinatis. Forst. Frodr. A. R ich . Flora.
S. australis, Fn d l. Frodr. Fl. N o rf. A. Cunn. Prodr. S. fretensis, H o o k .fll. Lond. Journ. B o t. v. 6. p . 4 73.
H a b . N o rth e rn an d Middle Is la n d s ; chiefly on tb e eastern coasts, Forster, etc. N a t. name, "M a -
wbai,” Col.
Stems trailing or climbing, pilose or smooth. Leaves petiolate, very variable in size, two to six inches across,
scabrous or smooth, broadly reniform, cordate or ovate, three- to seven-lobed ; lobes acute, toothed, deeply bilobed,
cordate at the base, with a rounded sinus. Floicers variable in size; male in racemes, 1 -4 inches long, pedicellate,
smooth or covered with long glandular hairs, 2-5 lines broad ; female smaller, capitate on a short peduncle, corolla
pedicellate. Fruits five to seven, ovate, inch long, pilose or smooth, but covered Avith spines, which, being
barbed, are the means of attaching the seeds to animals, and so dispersing them.—I can find no difference between
tbese and American specimens, in either foliage or inflorescence ; it varies extremely in size in both hemispheres.
N at. O rd. X X IX . P A S S I E L O R E Æ , Juss.
Gen. I . PAS S IELO RA , L .
AZores uni-bi-sexuales. Sepala P e ía /a 4 - 5 , basi corona filamentorum in stru c ta. Stam.ina -,
filamentis basi in columnam pediceUo ovarii accretam coalitis, superne liberis, divaricatis ; antberis 2-locularibus,
versatilibus. Ovarium stipitatum, ovoideum, 1-loculare; ovulis plurimis, placentis 3 parietalibus
affixis; stylis 3, stigmatibus capitatis. Bacca carnosa. Semina numerosa; testa reticulata v. rugosa,
Crustacea.
The New Zealaud Passion-flower is a perfectly smooth climbing plant, with alternate, simple, petiolate leaves,
axillary tendrils, and small axiUary panicles of green flowers, that only differ from those of the American
Passion-flowers in being dioecious and tetramerous. Sepals and petals four, oblong, blunt, with a ring of filaments
at the base of the latter. Stamens four (those of the female flower, sraaU, empty); filaments united at the base
into a column, above filiform and diverging. Anthers two-celled. Ovarium stipitate (stipes suiTOunded by the tube
of filaments), ovoid, one-celled, with three short styles, terminated by capitate stigmata, and three parietal many-
ovuled placentm. Berry fleshy, globose, many-seeded; seeds compressed, oblong; testa crustaceous, rugose.—This
genus is almost wholly a native of South America, where very many kinds are found, some of which are gi-eat ornaments
of English stoves; three or four are found in In d ia ; and a similar genus, Bisemma, Lab., inhabits Australia,
Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, and probably other Pacific Islands. M. Raoul has made of the New Zealand plant
a new genus, I think unnecessarily. (Name from patior, I suffer, and flos, a flower; because the South American
missionaries saw the emblems of our Saviour’s passion in this plant.)
1. Passiflora tetrandra, Banks et S o l ; glaberrima, foliis petiolatis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve inte-
gerrimis acuminatis eglandulosis, involucris nuUis, pedunculis axillaribus 2-4-floris, floribus ab o rtu monoicis
4-meris, stylis 3. B a n k s eb Sol. M S S . et Ic. DC. Prodr. A . Cunn. Prodr. Tetrapathtea australis, Raoul,
p . 27. t. 27.
H a b . N o rth e rn an d Middle Is la n d s ; n o t uncommon in dry woods. B a n k s a n d Solander, etc. El. D e cember.
N a t. name, " Ku -p ap a,” R . Cunn. (Cultivated in En g lan d .)
Leaves 3 -4 inches long, linear or ovate, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, narrowed at the base, shining above.
Flowers small for the genus ( ^ ^ inch), pale green. Fruit globular, yellow-red, 1 - l i inch broad.—The Spanish
missionaries of South America compared the digitate leaves (of one species) and tendrils to the hands and flagella
with which our Saviour was scourged; the ten pieces of the perianth to the ten fa ith fu l disciples; the corona of
filaments to the crown of thorns, the five stamina to the wounds, and the three stigmata to the nails used at the
crucifixion.
N a t . O r d . XXX. PORTULACEÆ, Juss.
Gen. I . CLA Y TO N IA , L .
Sepala 2, ovata, cóncava. P e ta la 5, membranácea. Stamina 5, petalis opposita e t basi inserta.
Ovarium 1 -lo cu lare; stylo erecto, 3-fido. Capsula 1-locularis, 3-valvis. Semina 3, compressa, funiculis
elongatis placeiitcC basilari in serta ; te sta atra, Crustacea.
A small, creeping, tender, succulent, pale green, herbaceous plant, with linear opposite leaves, membranous and
cuneate at the base, aud scapes of solitaiy, white, very membranous flowers. Sepals two, ovate, concave. Petals five,
white, membranous, obovate. Stamens five, opposite and attached to the base of the petals. Ovary ovate, one-celled,
with a straight three-cleft style. Capsule one-celled, three-valved, with three seeds attached to the base of the cell by
long funiculi ; testa black, shining. Embryo terete, curved, iu a mealy albumen. 'This, with the present exception,
is entirely a North American genus, extending from the Arctic Circle to tbe Soutliern United States. C. Australasica
differs from its congeners in its one-flowered scape; it is common in Australia and Tasmania. (Named in honour
of John Clayton, an English traveller in North America and a botanist.)
1. CMyioma Australasica, Hook. fil. ; cæspitosa, sarmentosa, foliis anguste linearibus, petiolis basi mem-
branaccis dilatatis connatis, scapis axiUaribus 1-floris. Hook. Ic. P la n t, t. 293.
H a b . Middle Islan d . MUford Sound, L ya ll.
Very variable iu size, Australian specimens being from 2 inches to a foot high. Stems creeping, 6 -8 inches
long. Leaves 1 -4 inches long, rather broader and spathulate above, blunt, nerveless. Scapes shorter than or as
long as the leaves, fleshy. Floioers pure white, Y’*! inch across.