74 WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



right angles to the antero-posterior axis ; these are the first 

 to drop, and each possesses in its axil a semiltmar pedicellate 

 flower. Each lateral flower is in close contact with the 

 median flower, which is always the largest and the oldest 

 (pi. IX., figs. 1-4). 



A second pair of bracts is seen in the early stages, arranged 

 one on each side at right angles to the first pair, but at 

 different levels ; each of these likewise possesses a small 

 pedicellate flower in its axil. At a much later stage, some 

 time after the fall of the first two bracts, a fifth bract appears 

 between the median flower and the third lateral flower, and 

 in its axil a shortly pedicellate flower arises. 



In point of time the median flower arising in the axil- of 

 a foliage leaf is not much in advance of the first pair of 

 lateral flowers. The third flower does not, however, appear 

 for some time, and the interval of time between its appearance 

 and the next flower, with which it forms a subopposite pair, 

 is still more prolonged. The appearance of the fifth lateral 

 flower is considerably delayed, and often it does not appear 

 until the majority of the bracts of the other flowers have 

 dropped. We therefore see that the interval of time between 

 the appearance of successive flowers of the same inflorescence 

 increases gradually, and the flowers do not cease to appear 

 until the oldest individuals have undergone considerable 

 expansion and their subtending bracts have dropped. 



We thus obtain finally a definite inflorescence having the 

 terminal flower the oldest, but the youngest flower next to 

 it, the development of each lateral flower being to the median 

 centrifugal, but to one another centripetal. (See pi. IX., 

 fig. 5.) 



If we now compare the development of the male inflores- 

 cence of any other species, approximately the same phases 

 are passed through. In some species the number of lateral 

 flowers is small, as in D. pruriens, whereas other species, 

 notably D. Toposia and D. sylvatica, have a much more 

 complicated system of flowers, in consequence of each lateral 



