Subtribe II. POEELLEAi.
Plants large, handsome. Stems springing from a creeping
radiculose caudex, plumseformi-pinnate or bipinnate, somewhat
radiculose, all the branches lateral and infra-axillary. Leaves
incubous, complicato-bilobate, the inferior lobule decidedly smaller
and ligulate. Stipules of equal size with the lobules, now and
then radiculose. Inflorescence dioicous. Flowers S constantly
monandrous. Flowers ¥ terminal on an extremely short lateral
branch {i.e. cladogenous.) Perianth compressed a little at the
front, trigonous, the third angle postical, 3-10 plicate, the
laciniolate mouth at first contracted, finally gaping or bilabiate.
Calyptra free. Capsule large, globose, quadrivalvate to the base;
the valves often imperfectly separated at the base and irregularly
lacerate.
Suhtribe I I I . P T IL ID E J l.
Plants usually large, often beautifully coloured, whitish,
yellowish, or rosy, sometimes blood-red. Stems in most cases
arising from a creeping radiculose, often also flagelliferous caudex,
pinnately or indefinitely ramose, sub-radiculose, branches either
all lateral or some postical, but the female flower always terminal
on the stem or on a longer or shorter lateral (never on a postical)
branch. Leaves incubous, transverse or succubous, nearly of the
same size and of the same shape as the stipules which are always
present, canaliculate, but very rarely complicate, bi-multifid, often
elegantly ciliate or torn into capillary laciniae. Infloresence
dioicous in every species (with the sole exception of Antlielia
Juratzkanat). Flowers i in species with succubous leaves,
monandrous; in those with incubous leaves, generally diandrous.
Female bracts in several pairs, either all free or the inner ones
adnate to the perianth, sometimes to the calyptra. Perianth
(when present) very slightly, frontally compressed, traversed
by 3-10 keels or folds, rarely ecarinate, constricted or truncate
at the mouth, free from the inner bracts or, in some genera,
adnate to and covered up by them; sometimes absent. Calyptra
free, or in some species which are without perianth covered with
the inner bracts. Capsule either globose, thick with many cell-
rovvs, straight-valved, or cylindrical of two cell-rows, with contorted
valves, tlie valves being sometimes bifid. Elaters slender,
dispiral.
Subtribe IV. t e ig o n a n t h b a :.
Plants minute or rather large, from green becoming pale,
rarely dull purple or subroseate. Stems most frequently prostrate
or procumbent, indefinitely or pinnately ramose, or dichotomous,
postical flagella almost bare of leaves, being often superadded.
Foliaceous branches lateral or in some occasionally all postical;
those hearing female flowers postical in almost every species, only
terminal in a few Cephalozice. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite,
succubous or incubous, varying in form, more or less deeply
divided from the frequently broad truncate apex into 2-4 or
rarely into 6 teeth or lobes, seldom quite simple; in very few
species are they complicate with the postical lobe ; margin generally
quite entire, flat or incurved, never recurved. Stipules
either wanting or small; in a few instances not much less in
size than the leaves and nearly similar in shape to them.
Flowers ¥ standing on a postical branch, very rarely on a
lateral branch or terminal on the stem itself; <? monandrous,
very rarely diandrous. Female bracts trijugate and tristichous,
in a few species distichous. Perianth nearly always long and
narrow, trigonous, the third angle postical, rarely 4-6-angled
by reason of the other angles being intercalated, all the latter
wingless and without te e th ; free both from calyptra and involucre
(except that of Kantia, which instead of a perianth has a pouch
grown together on the insides to the calyptra). Calyptra
generally small, free, except in Kantia. Capsule most frequently
oblong or cylindrical of a double series of cells (in a few genera
there are 4-5 strata of cells), valves straight, twisted in Kantia
only. Elaters slender, dispiral.