Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/142

102 annular or unilateral, rarely wanting. Stamens 5–10, in the great majority of the order (but not in the New Zealand genera) inserted inside the disc at the base of the ovary, more rarely outside or on the disc, sometimes unilateral; anthers basifixed or versatile, 2-celled. Ovary free, central or excentric, entire lobed or partite, 1–4-celled; style simple or divided, usually terminal; ovules 1–2 in each cell, seldom more. Fruit very various, capsular or indehiscent, dry or succulent, entire or lobed, sometimes winged. Seeds globose or compressed, with or without an aril; albumen wanting or more rarely present; embryo generally thick, sometimes folded or spirally twisted, radicle short, inferior.

Shrubs or small trees, often viscid with a resinous exudation. Leaves alternate, exstipulate. Flowers unisexual or polygamous, in terminal or axillary racemes or panicles, rarely solitary. Sepals 2–5, imbricate or valvate. Petals wanting. Stamens 5–10, usually 8; filaments short; anthers linear-oblong. Ovary 3–6-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. Capsule membranous or coriaceous, 2–6-sided, septicidally 2–6-valved; valves winged at the back. Seeds 1–2 in each cell, lenticular or subglobose, compressed, with a thickened funicle but not arillate; embryo spirally coiled.

1. D. viscosa, ''Jacq. Enum. Pl. Carib.'' 19.—Usually a glabrous shrub or small tree 8–20 ft. high, but occasionally dwarfed to 1–3 ft., and sometimes attaining 30–35 ft.; trunk seldom more than 12 in. diam.; young branches usually compressed or triangular, viscid. Leaves 1–3 in. long, narrow linear-obovate or oblanceolate, obtuse, rarely acute, entire, gradually narrowed into a short petiole. Flowers small, greenish or reddish, in few-flowered terminal panicles,