198 BROOM-RAPES, BALANOPHOREA, RAFFLESIACEE. 
example of the Balanophorew. The flowers are arranged side by side on the 
branches, staminate flowers on one plant, and pistillate flowers on another, the 
latter always grouped in spherical capitula, as is shown in fig. 41%. Reddish-brown 
scale-like leaves are situated at the points of origin of the branches, and also at the 
base of the entire inflorescence. The general aspect is that of a bunch of verrucose 
grapes ascending from the root, or of the fruiting axis of Ricinus, and is very 
striking owing to the blood-red colouring of all the parts. 
As a final instance of the Balanophorew we may take the genus Cynomorium, 
which was so highly valued in olden times, and is the sole species belonging to this 
family of plants indigenous in the south of Europe. A drawing of it is given on 
the right-hand side of fig. 42. 
Whilst other Balanophorew are parasitic on the roots of trees and lianes in the 
shade of lofty woods, this Cynomoriwm thrives most luxuriantly upon plants near 
the sea-coast, on the roots of Pistacias and Myrtles, and even on actual salt-loving 
maritime plants, the various Tamarisks, Salicorniz, Salsolacex, and Oraches, which 
are sprinkled with foam whenever the breakers are high. The seed is like that of 
other Balanophoreze and those of the Orobanche species, and germinates in the 
same way as they do. From the group of cells in the seed which represent the 
embryo, a filiform body emerges, and then grows downwards, its upper part 
remaining for some time in connection with the other cells in the seed, which are 
richly furnished with food-materials. The filiform embryo continues to grow 
deeper and deeper at the expense of this nutritive store, and as soon as it reaches a 
living root, swells into an oval or irregularly-lobed tubercle, which unites with 
the wood of the nutrient root in the manner already described. These tubercles 
swell, and from the summit of each a spadix is produced, as in Lophophytwm, 
which is raised above the surface of the earth. The spadix is clothed with 
pointed scales, and is clearly differentiated into a lower stalk-like support, and 
a fleshy inflorescence resembling a cone. The small scales are separated from one 
another by the process of elongation of the spadix, and some fall off. Others 
of them, situated about the middle of the inflorescence, persist, however, until 
the time when the entire spadix dries up. The whole of the structure standing 
above the ground has a blood-red colour, and when it is injured a red fluid exudes, 
which was at one time supposed to be blood. At an age when the peculiar pro- 
perties of extraordinary plants were looked upon as an indication given by higher 
powers that they were to be used for curative purposes, it was believed that the 
spadices of Cynomoriwm, being blood-red in colour, and bleeding when wounded, 
had styptie properties. In those days they were even collected for the sake of this 
property, and sold in apothecaries’ shops under the name of the Maltese fungus 
(Fungus melitensis). Various miraculous virtues were also attributed to this plant, 
and the demand for it was so great that it became a regular article of commerce, 
its main source being the Island of Malta, whence is derived the name above 
referred to. 
Of the Hydnore, which are most properly included in the same series as 
