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