CANNABIS SATIVA rn 



bract with its overlapping edges completely surrounds the mature 

 flower except for the exserted stigmas. It is conical, open at the 

 top, terminated by a pointed beak; and, when uncurled and ex- 

 panded, heart-shaped and acuminate. The abaxial surface of the 

 bract is thickly covered with glands and glandular emergences that 

 are intermixed with large, stout, conical hairs. (Fig. 105, D.) 

 The adaxial surface is without glands, and hairs are seldom present 

 except at the margin and near the apex of the bract where the inner 

 surface is more exposed. The bracts are several cells in thickness 

 at the median line, and the spongy mesophyll is chlorophyllose. 

 The projecting emergences of the abaxial surface which are termi- 

 nated by glands contain compact chlorenchymatous cells at their 

 bases. The multicellular glands are derived from epidermal cells 

 and consist of a stalk and a terminal cap or plate. The stalk may 

 be a single or multicellular row of cells, and the expanded terminal 

 portion consists of several cells over which a very thick cuticle is 

 formed . 



The perianth is continuous and entire, forming a cup-like struc- 

 ture with a smooth or slightly fringed margin which at maturity 

 covers about two-thirds of the ovary. (Fig. 106, H.) It develops 

 as a definitely diverged structure free from the ovary but becomes 

 closely adherent as the ovary enlarges. (Fig. 106, D.) The 

 perianth is a simple hyaline membrane consisting of the two 

 epidermal layers between which are a few spongy mesophyll cells; 

 and at its base, a network of small vascular bundles extends through 

 the mesophyll. The cells of the abaxial epidermis are elongated 

 in the direction of the long axis of the ovary; and, rarely, long uni- 

 cellular hairs may be produced. The adaxial surface resembles the 

 abaxial but is devoid of hairs, and neither epidermis contains 

 stomata. The mesophyll is comprised of transparent, thin-walled 

 cells that are homogeneous and non-chlorophyllose, and it seldom 

 exceeds three or four cell layers in thickness. 



The pistil consists of an oval, unilocular ovary, which is 

 slightly flattened and somewhat depressed at its stylar end, and 

 two stylar branches and stigmas. The styles are cylindrical, and 

 the papillate stigmas are divaricate with their apices curved out- 

 ward and downward. (Fig. 105, C) 



According to Briosi and Tognini (6) the primordium of the car- 

 pellate flower originates as a dome-shaped structure in the axil 

 of a foliar bract or stipule. (Fig. 106, A, B.) At the base of the 



