424 



DICO'ITLEDONES. 



ous stamens or to be slightly polyadelphous (Fig. 443) ; in addition 

 to this, it may be observed that the anthers are 4-locular and 

 introrse. In Lilhea, the groups of stamens alternate with the 

 petals. In a few genera (Corchorus, Triumfetta) 10 free and 

 single stamens are found in 2 whorls ; but, in the majority, 

 groups of free stamens in separate bundles. The stamens are 

 more or less united in Apeiba, Lilhea. Style simple. Ovary 2- 



locular. The ovules are pen- 

 dulous ; raphe turned inwards. 

 The calyx readily falls off ; the 

 festivation of the entirely free 

 petals is slightly imbricate (not 

 twisted). 



Tilla (Figs. 443, 444). Calyx 

 and corolla 5-merous ; the 5 

 staminal leaves (opposite the 

 petals) divided as far as the base 

 into a large number of stamens 

 which are free or united into 

 groups ; gynoeceum with 5 

 loculi in the ovary (opposite the 

 sepals) ; there are 2 ovules in 

 each loculus, though the ovary 

 ripens into a 1-seeded nut, which 

 is not detached from the axis of 

 the inflorescence, but is carried 

 away by the wind, whirling 

 round and round, its large- 

 winged bracteole serving as a 

 parachute (Fig. 443). Only trees, 

 with alternate, obliquely heart-shaped 

 and dentate leaves ; stellate hairs, as 

 in the other Columuifera?, are often 

 present. The terminal bud of the 

 branch always fails to develop, and 

 the growth is then continued sym- 

 podially by the uppermost axillary 

 buds. The INFLORESCENCE (Figs. 443, 444) is a 3-7-flowered dischasium (Fig. 

 444 t, d, e), which is developed in the axil of a foliage-leaf (Fig. 444). The 

 first of its 2 bracteoles (a) is large, thin, leaf-like, and united with the inflor- 

 escence, the lower portion of which forms a broad wing, its so-called " bract " ; 

 the second bracteole (b), on the other hand, remains scale-like, and supports 

 a winter foliage-bud covered with bud-scales which thus is situated at the base 



FIG. 443. Inflorescence of Tilin, with its 

 \vinged bracteole (h) ; a, a axis of the shoot; 

 the vegetative bud is seen between the in- 

 florescence and the axis of the shoot ; 6 

 petiole of foliage-leaf. 



