94 WRIGHT : THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 



unicellular hairs, as in the anthers of perfect stamens from 

 the male flowers. 



In point of number the staminodes are, compared to the 

 stamens of the male, very few. Usually the number is the 

 same as that of the corolla or calyx segments. The series 

 alternate with the corolla lobes when the number of members 

 of both these whorls is the same, as in the four staminodes 

 of JD. oppositifolia, D. sylvatica, and IX Embryppteris, and 

 the five staminodes in D. acuta, D. Thwaitesii, and D. Mrsuta. 



When the staminodes are an exact multiple of the corolla 

 segments they are disposed opposite to and alternate with 

 them, as in the twelve staminodes of j^. Melanoxylon, and 

 the eight staminodes of D. Gardneri and D. Ebenum. 

 When the number of the calyx and corolla segments varies 

 the number of staminodes usually shows exactly the same 

 numerical variations, as in D. insignis, D. attenuata, and D. 

 affiniSj where the flowers may have their~parts in Tours and 

 fives, and even threes. 



/ In D. Top osia there seems to be an erratic number of 



' twelve to sixteen staminodes arranged either epipetalous or 



hypogynous. 



Pistil. The pistil is represented in the male flowers of 

 polygamous trees by a central, hairy, apiculate, or flattened 

 disc ; in female flowers it is sub-globose or ovoid in shape, 

 green, and glabrous or hairy ; in J). Embryppteris and D. 

 pruriens the carpellary wall is covered with a dense layer 

 -/ P7- ^ mtl ltt- an( i uni-cellular hairs which persist in the fruit ; 

 the stigmas are green and sessile ; the ovary is four-, eight-, 

 or ten-celled ; the ovules are pendulous from the -top of each 

 cell of the ovary. 



The relation of the Staminal Whorl in Male and Female 

 Flowers. Astaminode is similar in form and size to a stamen, 

 and differs from it mainly in that its anther is barren. It 

 may be possible to derive one from the other, and with this 

 object in view I have drawn up a table showing the number 

 and orientation of the members of the staminal whorls for 

 each species. 



