POLYCAEPIC^. 



301 



Order 11. Lauraceae (True Laurels). Trees or shrubs; 

 the leaves, always without stipules, are simple, most frequently 

 scattered, lanceolate or elliptical, entire, penninerved, finely reti- 

 culate (except Cinnamomum with 3-5-veined leaf), leathery and 

 evergreen (except, e.g. Cinnamomum) ; they are frequently studded 

 with clear glands containing volatile oil. The flowers are borne in 

 panicles and are small and of a greenish or whitish colour. They 

 are regular, perigynous, with most frequently a bowl or cup-shaped 

 receptacle (Fig. 386), usually $ , and trimerous (rarely dimerous) 

 through all (most frequently 0-7) whorls ; viz. most frequently, 

 perianth 2 whorls, stamens 3-4 and carpels 1 (P3 + 3, A3 + 3 + 3 

 + 3, G3) in regular alternation (Fig. 387). Each of the 2 or 4 

 loculi of the anthers open by an upwardly directed valve (Fig. 386) ; 

 of the stamens, the '2 outermost whorls are generally introrse, 



FIG. 386. Flower of the Cinna- 

 mon-tree (Cinnamoinuin zcylani- 

 ciuii) (longitudinal section^. 



FIG. 387. Typical dia- 

 gram of the Lauraceoe : 



ij staminocles. 



FIG. 388. ini(i-.s 

 nobilis : longitudinal 

 section of fruit. 



the others extrorse, or 1-3 whorls are developed as staminodes 

 (Fig. 3870). The gynoeceum has 1 loculus with 1 style and 1 

 pendulous ovule (Fig. 386), and may be considered as formed of 3 

 carpels. The fruit is a berry (Fig. 388) or drupe, which often is 

 surrounded at its base by the persistent receptacle (as an acorn by 

 its cupule), which becomes fleshy and sometimes coloured during 

 the ripening of the fruit. The embryo has 2 thick cotyledons, but 

 no endosperm (Fig. 388). 



The Lauracejfi present affinities with thePolygonacea?, in which there is found 

 perigyny, as well as a similar number of parts in the flower and a similar 

 gynceceum, but with erect and orthotropous ovule. From their general charac- 

 ters they should be classed among the Polycarpica?, but stand, however, isolated 



