*H 



*■ -^^ 



t. 



2 M. -T. C, DE MELLO AND MR. K. SPUUCE ON PAPAYACE^. 



fibrous shell, not exceeding 2 or 3 inches in thickness even in the 

 stoutest species, filled with a dense firm pith. Branches usually 0, 

 from the secondary axes being ^annual, Le. floriferous peduncles, 

 or else reduced to floriferous axillary nodes ; but sometimes the 

 peduncles are replaced by long wand-like branches. 



Leaves crowded towards apex of stem, alternate, large, pal- 

 mately (rarely pinnately) nerved, usually deeply and sometimes 

 compoundly lobed, rarely subentire, but in Jaracatid distinctly 

 digitate ; petioles elongate, sometimes reaching 3 to 4 feet ; 



stipules 0, 



Flowers in axillary racemes or panicles [whereon the secondary 

 peduncles are cymuliferous, the axial flower being more preco- 

 cious than tbe rest, and often diverse in structure], usually 

 unisexual and dioicous [but sometimes polygamous, with the 

 flowers all 5 on some plants, all cJ on others, and on others 



bisexual and J]- 



Calyx free, very minute, 5-lobed. Corolla of 5 (rarely of 

 only 4) ligulate petals, more or less united into a monopetalous 

 corolla, rarely (in some $ flowers) free to the very base, either 

 imbricated and subcontorted in sestivation, or inflexo-valvate. 

 cJ stamens 10, in two rows, fixed on the throat of the corolla by 

 very sliort filaments ; anthers erect, splitting lengthwise, often 

 partly imperfect. § ovary free, 1-celled, with 5 parietal pla- 

 centae [which sometimes project so far inwards as to meet below, 

 and render the ovary half 5-celled] ; ovules 00, anatropous ; styles 

 almost 0; stigmata 6, continuous with the carpels, alternating 

 with the petals. [Bisexual: see the description given below.] 



Fruit succulent, l-ccUed, or spuriously 5-celled [by the further 

 intromission of the placentsD after fertilization, until they meet 

 in the axis of the fruit]. Seeds 00, ovoid, subcompressed, usually 

 rugose or echinate, and with a viscous envelope which is of the 

 natui'e of an aril. Emhryo in the axis of fleshy albumen, with 

 flat cotyledons and a taper radicle next the hilum. 



I proceed to quote from Senhor Mello'a notes his description 

 of three forms under which the common Papaw {Carica pa- 

 payay Jj.-= Papaya vulgaris, DC.) occurs at Campinas, in the Pro- 

 vince of Sao Paulo, Brazil (latitude about 24^ S.)— premising that 

 the Brazilians call the plant Mamoeiro^ and the fruit Mamao 

 (plural Mamoes). 



FoKM I. 2^=^Mamoeiro Jemea Brasiliensium. — Injlorescence 

 axillary ; peduncles solitary, 1-2 iij.,. long, bearing 2 to 4 shortly 



