546 SAPINDACER. 
2. Cardiospermum Halicacabum. . 
Flower of very irregular structure, and*rendered still more 
difficult by dislocation. 
Sepals 4, in reality 5, the two lowest combined into one, 
as is evident by the rudimentary central veins when com- 
pared with its opposite single one; these are anterior and 
posterior, the two outside ones are very small. 
Petals 4, that which would be opposite to the compound 
Sepal being wanting, the others are normally situated, eacht 
being provided with a scale on the inside, two of which 
have a greater tendency to pass into stamens than the rest. 
Fertile stamens 8, disposed nearly in two phalanges, of 
these 5 are opposed to the, sepals, three are opposed to the 
compound one, two belonging to it, the middle one to the 
petal wanting. The remaining two are opposed to the lowest ' 
petals, or those between the compound sepal and the lateral 
ones. The two remaining to complete the series will be | 
found in the shape of two minute teeth opposed to the two 
remaining petals, 
Carpellary leaves three opposed to the wanting petal, 
and those two which have no fertile stamina. 
Alternation and situation of parts, Pl. DXCIX. Fig. Hr 
d, Abortive Stamens. E 
c, Sepal. 
| 1, Petal with its scale. 
a, Compound. 
À system of compensation is visible. The stamen opposed 
to tlfe wanting petal is most developed; the two petals whose 
scales have the most antheriform tendency have none but tooth- 
like stamina, And if the situation (given) of the carpella 
` be correct, we have them developed opposite those parts which 
“are most deficient. ` 7 
.. Littleis known of the nature of these and other scales, if 
they represent a series of stamina, then the outermost series — 
a 
