‘The pollen grains of Methysticodendron are of the same 
type and are, indeed, very similar to the grains of other 
species of Datura, section Brugmansia. 
Notwithstanding these similarities, Methysticodendron 
‘an. be distinguished at once from the tree-species of 
Datura by its very deeply lobose corolla which is divided 
for three-fifths to four-fifths of its length. The tubular 
portion of the corolla is wholly enclosed within the tubu- 
lar, spathaceous calyx, so that it bears a superficial resem- 
blance to a polypetalous flower, the gamopetalous con- 
dition not being evident as the blossoms hang on the tree. 
The narrowly ligulate leaves are also strikingly unlike 
those of the tree-species of Datura. 
The major and perhaps fundamental departure from 
the solanaceous condition, however, lies in the morphol- 
ogy of the ovary and styles. Methysticodendron has three 
conduplicate carpels with three free styles (with undi- 
vided stigmatic areas) which retain the conduplicate con- 
dition. The concave structure of the styles leaves the 
ovule cavity somewhat open at the apex, exposing the 
apical ovules, until, about one third of the way down, the 
‘arpel walls fuse to forma trilocular synearp. All mem- 
bers of the Solanaceae have a simple style with a two- 
lobed stigma. All members of the tribe Datureae have a 
four-celled ovary. Indeed, the only tribe of the family 
possessing a three- to five-celled ovary is the Nicandreae, 
but even Nicandra has a simple style. 
The structures most difficult of interpretation are the 
several appendages arising from the central tissue of the 
ovary. One of these is an elongated appendage usually 
entirely homologous with the styles (even to the pres- 
ence of what appears to be stigmatic tissue), but much 
shorter. Accompanying this appendage are usually one 
or two anomalous knob-shaped, clavate or even subulate 
projections. These do not appear to arise consistently 
[ 6 ] 
