266 BUTCHERS BROOM 



Fruit a white pseudo-berry, the very viscid flesh being 

 that of the receptacle. The viscin of the fruit prevents 

 birds from swallowing the seed, which they therefore rub 

 off on to branches while cleaning the beak : the seed is 

 then washed into a crevice by rain, and germinates. 



(/S) Perianth double, the outer series repre- 

 senting a calyx, the inner a corolla. 



* Outer (sepals) and inner (petals) segments 

 of the homochlamydeous perianth, only 

 distinguishable by position and size, not 

 difierent in colour and texture. All very 

 small. 



t Flowers in the centre of a hard leaf-like 

 branch (cladode) with spinescent point; 

 perianth of 3 smaller outer and 3 larger 

 inner segments. Liliaceous tj^ie. 



Ruscus aculeatus, L. Butcher's Broom (Fig. 94). Small 



cM 



Fig. 94. Butcher's Broom, Biiscua aculeatus. Flowering branch ; a 

 scale, from the axil of which springs the cladode; eld cladode; Ji flowers, 

 p. 266. 



