ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



185 



purpose, of showing in several species the origin of what I have called the spurious partition. 

 The formation of a true partition or septum is shown in the lower fig. of No. 3, and in No. 4. 

 In these examples the inflexed margins of the carpels actually meet in the centre and coalesce, 

 forming a single placenta in the axis. In all the others the placentae are parietal with a process 

 stretching from the one to the other, which, as shown in the upper figure of No. 2, enlarges with 

 the fruit and becomes the septum. But the placentas do not enlarge in the same way, they con- 

 tinue parietal throughout, hence the seed in the nearly mature capsule are always found attached 

 to the sides of the capsule along the edge of the partition and covering it with their broad wings. 

 Such being the position of parts it results, that it is an error to describe the position of the 

 placentae as axile, and to assume that "the central or axile position of the placenta is an 

 indispensable character of this natural order." It equally follows that Eccremocarpiis is only 

 exceptional to the extent of wanting the spurious partition, shown to exist in nearly all the 

 others, not in regard to its parietal placentation. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 160-61. 



Spatkodea adenophylla (Wall. Alph. DC). 



1. 2. Flowering branch and ripe capsule. 



3. Flower-bud. 



4. Corolla split open. 



5. Stamens, back and front views. 



6. Calyx and ovary. 



7. Ovary cut transversely. 



8. Longitudinally. 



9. An ovary a little further advanced, divided in the 

 line of future dehiscence, and opened to show more 

 clearly the parietal placentation. 



10. A portion of 2 placentas detached from the capsule. 



11. A detached seed. 



19. Same, testa removed, cotyledons in situ. 



13. A cotyledon and plumule seen from within. 



14. Section of a mature capsule after dehiscence had 

 commenced. 



^ 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 161-b. 



1. Bignonia xylocarpa (Roxb.). 



2. Calosanthes Indica (Blume, DC). 



3. Spathodea, species undermentioned. 

 Sterospermum Checonoides (DC). 

 Bignonia amaena (Wall, an Spathods 



4. 

 5. 



> 



6. Millingtonia hortenses (Linn. 



7. Tecoma capensis (Lind.). 



8. Tecoma Jasminoides (Lind.). 



9. Pajanelia Rheedii (R, W.l 



Sub-order Schrebere.s* R- W. 



Under Jasminece I alluded to the genus Schrebera, referred by Alpb. De Candolle and 

 Fenzl to that order on the faith of Roxburgh's incorrect figure and imperfect description, but 

 whose affinity with it I doubted. It had hitherto been placed in Bignoniaceoe. While writing 

 the article Bignoniaceae, I reexamined the plant with more attention and had a drawing, and as 

 careful an analysis as my rather imperfect materials enabled me to make, prepared. This exami- 

 nation has tended to confirm my former conjectures as to its being distinct from Jasminece, and 

 Bignonal in its characters, but distinguished from all the genuine members of that group by its 

 regular corolla and diandrous flowers. In these respects it approaches some Acanthacece 

 as well as in its 2-valved, 2-celled capsules, the dehiscence of which is in accordance with those 

 of that family, that is, locuHcidal with contrary partitions. It however differs in its arborious 

 babit, compound leaves, winged, pendulous seed, and plicate or sub-chrysoloid, fleshy cotyledons. 

 Towards PedaliacecE it stands in nearly the same relationship as towards Jcanthacea, but does 

 not enter that order ; neither will it enter Bignoniaceoe^ though approaching it in so many 

 points as to have led to its being hitherto placed in that order, and, to my mind, more naturally 

 than it now is in Jasminece, to which it has been removed on account of its diandrous flowers, 

 and supposed erect seed. The flowers correspond but not the position of the seed ; and the cap- 

 sule, both as to structure and dehiscence, is so remote from that fruit of Jasmineae as altogether to 

 over-balance the single character of diandrous flowers in a didynamous order, m which the 

 abortion of at least one stamen is so constant. Taking this view of its affinities, I have final y 

 determined to leave it in the Bignonal group, raising it for the present to the rank of a sub- 

 order only, until it has been better examined, or perhaps, now that its structure is better known, 



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