A ngiosp: Dicol: Apetalae. XII. 



As APETALAE may be conveniently grouped families in which there is some 

 suggestive evidence that the petaloid condition has been lost, and that they may be 

 more or less related to existing polypetalous forms. In absence of very decisive 

 evidence, these may include : — Lauraceae, referred to the Polj-carpicae near Berberi- 

 daceae, Myristicaceae near Anonaceae : the great series of the Euphorbiaceae as a 

 branch of the Eucyclic Discifloral section (Geraniales), with the Buxaceae (Sapindales) : 

 the Platanaceae as petaloid and apocarpous suggestive of the Saxifrage-alliance : the 

 Thymeleaceae as reduced Discifloral types, and the Chenopodiaceae generally referred 

 to the Centrosperm series with Caryophyllaceae. 



Lauraceae (40/1000) founded on Laurus nobilis, Bay, of Medit. region; ever- 

 green, flowers in decussate clusters, dioecious, dimerous, apetalous ; Staminate flower 

 of 2 + 2 perianth, and 10 stamens (4 + 2 + 2 -)- 2) with paired glandular appendages 

 on the 4 inner, and valvate dehiscence of 2 anther-loculi : Carpellary flower of 2 + 2 

 perianth, 4 staminodes (diagonal), ami gynoecium of i carpel with i suspended ovule. 

 Fruit a black berry, \ in., aromatic, with i seed without endosperm. The family is 

 extended to a wide range of tropical forest-trees, in which the full type of flower is 

 hermaphrodite and trimerous, characterized by the peculiar valvate anthers and the 

 limiting term of the gynoecium. 



Cinnamomum zeylanieum, Cinnamon, a large tree of S. India and Ceylon, 

 cult, and coppiced ; leaves coriaceous, aromatic ; flowers in panicled clusters, greyish, 

 5 mm. ; Peiianth 3 -|- 3, stamens 4-locular, 4-va' ved, in alternating series 34-3 introrse, 

 and 3 extrorse, 2-glanded, followed by 3 staminodes. Style and stigma simple, ovary 

 with one anatropous ovule suspended. The receptacle is crateriform (perigyny), and 

 the construction suggests a relic of a once more complex organization. Fruit a dark- 

 purple berry, i in. long, taken by birds. 



C. Tamala, Cassia-Cinnamon, evergreen tree of E. Sub-Himalya, with glossy 

 aromatic leaves. Flowers yellowish-white, 6 mm. diam. ; Berry black, \ in., fragrant. 

 Cf. C. Camphora, a large tree of Japan and forests of Formosa (100 ft.), cult.; 

 camphor distilled from all parts. 



Machilus bombycina, Soom, gregarious in valley-forest of Assam, largely 

 cult. (Muga-silk) ; flowers of similar type. Periantli 10 mm. ; berry A in. 



Litsaea polyantha, a tree of Sub-Himalya, also associated with Soom and 

 cult. ; Flowers trimerous but dioecious, in decussate groups of 5 (in the manner of 

 Laurus) ; stamens all introrse and 4-valved ; carpellary flowers of 3 -I- 3 perianth and 

 typical ovary. Fruit on elongated pedicels and appearing clustered. 



L. zeylanica (= Tciradenid), a ^mall evergreen tree of Hill-forest, S. Ind. and 

 Ceylon : Flowers in compact axillary clusters, perianth 4-lobed, stamens 6, 2 innermost 

 biglandular, all 4-valved. 



Beilschmiedia Roxburghiana, evergreen tree of A^sam, &c. ; Flowers herm- 

 aphrodite, trimerous ; Perianth 3-1-3,10 mm. long ; stamens 34-3 introrse, 3 extrorse, 

 and 3 staminodes, the 3ril whorl biglandular (as in Cinnamon), but the anthers dehisce 

 by 2 valves only (as in Laurus). Ovary t3pical, fruit about i in. 



Myristica fragrans, isolated type of Myristicaceae, following similar extreme 

 phases of reduction. Evergreen tree (30-60 ft.) of E. Indies, and cult. : Staminate 

 flowers in panicled cymes, perianth trimerous, gamophyllous, and a staminal column 

 with 20 or so fused anthers : carpellary flower of perianth including i carpel with 

 I basal anatropous ovule: Fruit a large yellow berry-form, 2 in., with i large seed 

 (Nulmep) with ruminated endosperm and scarlet fenestrated aril (Mace). 



Euphorbiaceae, a .'^eries of Eucyclic Geraniales, in all stages of diclinous 

 specialization : Staminate flowers may be wholly aberrant, and the carpellary flower 

 attains the limit of a Tricoccus-fruit of characteristic construction, syncarpous, 

 superior, of 3 carpels, with 2 (or i) suspended ovules in each loculus, raphe internal, 

 and 3 style-branches (often bifid) ; Fruit normally a dry dehiscent, exj)lobive, capsule, 



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