THE ANGIOSPERMAE 



1391 



Anatropous ovules have a ridge up one side, which is a continuation of 

 the funicle and is generally called the raphe. This is customarily described 

 as a union of the funicle with the outer integument, but the development of 

 anatropous ovules shows that, in fact, no fusion takes place, but, on the 

 contrary, the outer integument is suppressed on the side next to the funicle, 

 only the tip, alongside the micropyle, sometimes appearing as a free struc- 

 ture. The bending over of the ovule is brought about by intercalary growth in 

 the chalazal region. 



The funicle is often very short and broad but examples of greatly elon- 

 gated funicles, other than those just mentioned, are not common. Probably 

 the best known are the long, flexible funicles of Fraxiriiis, and those of 

 Magnolia by which the seeds remain suspended after the opening of the 

 fruits. Members of the Combretaceae, moreover, have funicles which are 

 generally long, sometimes interlaced or even fused together and furnished 

 with knobbly outgrowths, providing, indeed, one of the family characters. 



Fig. 1292. — Juliania sp. A, Young ovule in section. B, Mature ovule in section. 

 The funicular " saucer " becomes massively enlarged. {After Hemsley.) 



Very singular are the funicles in Juliania (Fig. 1292) and Pistacia. The 

 resemblance which they show in this structure is striking because the two 

 families of Julianiaceae and Anacardiaceae are not otherwise closely similar. 

 The base of the funicle is short and broad. The upper part divides into 

 two; one portion is long, folded sharply over on itself and bears the small, 

 unitegminous ovule. The other portion forms a saucer, into which dips 

 the ovular apex. Later it becomes immensely enlarged and fleshy and fills 

 a large part of the seed. 



Outgrowths of the funicle also occur not infrequently as arils, which in 

 some cases completely envelop the ovule and provide a " third integument ", 

 e.g., in Asphodehis. 



Where the ovule is attached, whether directly to the placenta or to the 

 upper end of the funicle, an abscission layer forms later, by means of which 

 the ripe seed is detached. This leaves a corky scar on the seed coat, known 

 as the hilum, which is often large and distinctively coloured, especially 

 in the Leguminosae, where the funicle may be very broad. 

 M 



