Trophia 



HORACES 



41 



1. TROPHIS L. 



Trees. Leaves stalked, underneath prominently penniveined 

 and reticulate ; stipules lateral, very small, caducous. Flowers 

 dioecious, in spikes. Spikes solitary or geminate in the axils, 

 the male with numerous flowers, the female short, few-flowered. 

 Male flowers : perianth 4-fid, valvate. Filaments iuflexed in 



¥ig. 10. — Trophis raeemosa Urb. 



A, Leaf with male spike. D, Perianth segment with 



B and C, Male flowers ; B, unopened ; stamen. 



C, after expansion of stamens. E, Female flower. 



J', Leaf with fruiting spike. 



inflexed 



bud, afterwards straight, exserted. Ovary rudimentary. Female 

 flowers : perianth tubular, adnate to ovary, contracted at the 

 apex of ovary to form a 4-dentate limb. Style 2-partite ; ovule 

 pendulous. Fruit globose, fleshy. Embryo straight ; cotyledons 

 fleshy, equal, semiglobose ; radicle very short, superior. 



5-6 species in the West Indies, Mexico, and the Andes of 

 S. America. 



