242 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS, 



little jagged rim only, not represented in (II.), but 

 visible below the stigmas in (HI.)- 



The three cells of the ovary contain two ovules 

 each, but when it becomes an acorn only one ovule 

 is developed into a seed ; this enlarges so much that 

 the other two ovary-cells are pushed to one side. The 

 large embyro with its two massive cotyledons quite 

 fills the interior. The cup grows at the same time, 

 so that it is always large enough to hold the acorn as it 

 continues to increase in size (III.). 



Myri'ca (Fig. 95). — The species consist of shrubs 

 often with a balsamic odour. They are monoecious or 

 dioecious, in catkins. There is a bract, sometimes with 

 two bracteoles, or minute bracts, to the male flower. 

 The bracteoles are wanting in (II., III). This consists 

 of two to eight stamens, some being often abortive. 

 The anthers are extrorse (III.). The female flower has 

 from two to three scales. There is no calyx, only a 

 pistil with a one-celled ovary, having a solitary erect 

 ovule. There are two stigmas, possibly indicating two 

 carpels (IV.). The fruit is somewhat " drupaceous " 

 and one-seeded (V., VI.). The fruit is covered with 

 little round pajnllce, or hemispherical protuberances, 

 which are often covered with wax (IV.). When a 

 fruit, as the grape, is covered with a very thin layer 

 of wax, this is called the " bloom " of the fruit. 



The reader may wonder why it is that some orders 

 have an immense number of genera and species, such 



