138 Shaw — Structure of the Floivers in 



Corolla. — The inner whorl of the perianth consists, as 

 before, of one anterior and two posterior petals. The anterior 

 one is hooded, the hood bears a beautiful fringed tuft, and 

 the whole structure measures about 2 cm. in length. The 

 two posterior ones are equal, shghtly inferior in length to the 

 frino-ed hood, and the inner margins of their distal ends are 

 greatly thickened. All three petals fuse below with each 

 other and with the stamens. 



Andrceciuvi. — In this species the stamens are only six in 

 number. They are nearly equal in size ; the dehiscence of 

 the microsporangia and the character of the spores are those 

 usual to the genus. The superficial cells of the micro- 

 sporangial walls exhibit stellate thickenings similar to the 

 condition in P. polygama. The microspores are much larger, 

 measuring at the time of pollination about 40 mm. in diameter. 



Gyncecmm. — Corresponding with the elaborate development 

 of the flower throughout, the pistil is also highly specialized. 

 The two-celled ovary is of the strict Polygala type. The 

 style is ver>^ long, and just as it leaves the ovary, bends 

 sharply anteriorly, and becomes nearly adherent with the 

 corolla-stamen body. The petals and filaments have united 

 anteriorly in such a way that the style is enclosed in a narrow 

 passage. The tissues of all are more or less united, and so 

 we have here a case of initial gynandry combined with a 

 complete coalescence of petals and stamens. Above, the style 

 expands into a free, relatively large clubshaped organ, which 

 bends posteriorly in a semicircle under the hood and down- 

 wards, and bears at its tip a small, glandular, stigmatic point. 

 In this case also a canal traverses the style, and nearly or 

 quite forms a passage from the ovarian cavity to the exterior. 

 The glandular hairs noted on the ovary of the former species 

 are here wanting. 



Nectary. — In line with the more showy appearance of 

 P. paiicifolia we find a highly developed nectary. It occupies 



