Petals not bearded within. Disc absent. Fruit with a woody endocarp and a fleshy mesocarp. Embryo with folded cotyledons. Climbing shrubs.--Species 2. Equatorial West Africa. The fruits and seeds are eaten and used medicinally. =Lavigeria= Pierre 12. Stem climbing. Flowers in spikes. Petals hairy outside. Disc present. Ovary without swellings. Style terminal; stigma slightly lobed.--Species 6. Tropics. =Desmostachys= Planch. & Miers Stem erect, tree-like. Flowers in fascicles or panicles. Ovary with 2 swellings. Style lateral. 13 13. Flowers in axillary fascicles. Filaments broadened below. Ovary usually with two narrow swellings at the top.--Species 12. Central Africa. (Under _Apodytes_ Mey.) =Rhaphiostyles= Planch. Flowers in terminal panicles. Filaments awl-shaped. Ovary with two broad swellings on the ventral face.--Species 10. Tropical and South Africa. Several species yield timber or edible fruits. (Plate 84.) =Apodytes= E. Mey. 14. Petals united at the base or nearly to the middle. 15 Petals united beyond the middle. 16 15. Petals imbricate in the bud. Style short. Leaves opposite. Flowers in repeatedly forked cymes.--Species 4. South Africa and Madagascar. =Cassinopsis= Sond. Petals valvate in the bud. Style long. Leaves alternate. Flowers in few-flowered fascicles or panicles.--Species 9. Central Africa. (Including _Alsodeiidium_ Engl.) =Alsodeiopsis= Oliv. 16. Petals imbricate in the bud. Sepals and stamens unequal. Disc indistinct. Stigma sessile. Leaves opposite, elliptical. Flowers in panicles.--Species 1. Madagascar. =Tridianisia= Baill. Petals valvate in the bud. 17 17. Petals bent backwards at the tip. Disc thick. Style short. Leaves opposite, lanceolate. Flowers in few-flowered axillary cymes.--Species 1. West Africa (Congo). =Acrocoelium= Baill. Petals bent inwards at the tip. Disc absent. Leaves alternate. 18 18. Sepals united at the base only. Filaments adnate to the corolla-tube throughout their whole length, without appendages. Style long, filiform. Ovary and fruit without a swelling.--Species 5. Tropics. =Leptaulus= Benth. Sepals united high up. Filaments free from the corolla, with two tufts of hairs at the apex. Style short, conical. Ovary and fruit with a lateral swelling. Flowers in head-like cymes.--Species 1. West Africa. =Lasianthera= Beauv. SUBORDER SAPINDINEAE FAMILY 133. ACERACEAE Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, palmately lobed, without stipules. Flowers in terminal corymbs, regular, polygamous. Sepals 5, free. Petals 5, free. Stamens 8, very rarely 4 or 12, perigynous, inserted on the inner edge of the thick disc. Filaments free. Ovary superior, 2-lobed and 2-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. Styles 2 or a single style with 2 branches or stigmas. Fruit winged, splitting into 2 mericarps. Seeds exalbuminous. (Under _SAPINDACEAE_.) Genus 1, species 4. North-west Africa. They yield timber, tanning bark, and sugar, and serve as ornamental plants. “Maple.” =Acer= L.