CHAP. III.] 



SPIR^E^. 



petals (b), and from twenty to fifty stamens (c), 

 which project very far beyond them. In the 



Fig. 24. — Flower of the Spir.^a. 



centre are from two to five carpels (d), which 

 are something like those of the raspberry when 

 young, but afterw^ards become of the kind called 

 follicles ; each carpel contains from two to six 

 seeds affixed to its inner suture, and they are 

 dehiscent — that is, they open naturally at the 

 top to discharge the seed (see e). The flowers 

 are set very close together, and from this circum- 

 stance, combined with their small size and pro- 

 jecting stamens, they look like fine filigree work; 

 hence the popular English names given to S. 

 salicifolia or Bride wort, Queen^s needle- work, 

 &c. The flow^ers of this species are in spicate 

 racemes, but others are in corymbs, as in S. bella ; 

 or in panicles, as in S. armfolia. 



Kerria is a genus containing only one species, 



the plant which was formerly called Corchorus 



J-ponica; the calyx is united at the base, but 



divided in the upper part into five lobes ; three 



of them obtuse, and the other two tipped with 



