THE DEHISCENCE OF ANTHERS BY APICAL PORES. 193 



Malay Archipelago) 



of this type. 



may 



the genera showing, 



• 



ction in the androecium of the Och- 

 ned in this connection. The family 

 is characterized by elongate, basifixed anthers, generally 

 dehiscing by apical pores, with some species of several of 



at least finally, longitudinal slits. 

 I have been unable to convince myself of any unquestion- 

 able relation existing between the stage of reduction in the 

 number of stamens and the perfection of dehiscence by 

 pores in this family except in the following special cases. 

 While too much weight must not be attached to the limited 

 evidence, the condition of stamens and staminodia in cer- 

 tain genera may be described. 



In JSTeclria (3 species in the Indo-Malay Archipelago) 

 the staminodia of the inner whorl, about 10 in number, are 

 clavate and cohere with the filaments of the longitudinally 

 dehiscent anthers at the base. In Leitgebia (1 species in 

 the savannahs of Brazil) a similar condition occurs with only 

 1 whorl of 5 spatulate staminodia and anthers dehiscing 

 at first by apical pores. In Sauvagesia (11 species, 

 confined, with the exception of 1 of universal tropical 

 distribution, to tropical Brazil) two whorls are present, the 

 outer of filiform staminodia, the inner of 5 petaloid struc- 

 tures, closely approximated in a cylinder around the longi- 

 tudinally dehiscent anthers. In Lavradia (6 species ende- 

 mic in Brazil) is to be seen a still more modified condition. 

 The outer whorl of staminodia is entirely wanting while the 

 members of the petaloid whorl are connate in a coniform or 

 almost urceolate corona surrounding the shortened anthers 

 which seem to show no trace of apical pores, but open 



te first. These aberrant forms may 





from 



pared 



Antholoma 



paceae 



While the evidence is far from 



13 



