590 



PART III. — THE CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS. 



of 4, 6, or 8 leaves : ovary 1-2-meroas : in the free central placenta, 

 which becomes more or less closely adherent to the vv^all of the 

 ovary, are developed several embryo-sacs, each of which probably 

 represents an ovule, but usually one only is fertile : fruit a berry : 

 seed generally with endosperm. 



Viscum album, the Mistletoe, is parasitic on various trees, forming conspicuous 

 evergreen bunches. The stem bears a pair of opposite leaves (Fig. 396 i t), 

 from the axils of which new branches spring, each bearing a pair of cataphyllary 

 leaves and then a pair of foliage-leaves, while the main axis ceases to grow, or 

 produces a terminal inflorescence, consisting of three flowers (Fig. 396 /*/)•: 

 branches or inflorescences may also spring from the axils of the cataphyllary 

 leaves. The flowers are dioecious. The fruit is a one-seeded berry with a viscid 

 pericarp, by means of which the seeds become attached to trees, and thus effect 

 the distribution of the plant. The ^ flowers have multilocular sessile anthers 

 which are inserted (Fig. 396 B a) upon the leaves of the perianth. Loranthus 

 europccus occurs upon Oaks in Eastern Europe. 



Fig. 395.—^ Flower ; B fruit 

 of Thcsium moiitaiium ; / ovary ; 

 •p perianth ; s stamens; n stigma 

 (enlarged). 



Fig. 393.—^ Terminal shoot of a $ plant of the 

 Mistletoe, VUcmn albma: s stem; bb leaves; fcfc 

 axillaiy buds ; / three ? flowers with the fruit set ; 

 h. bracts. B S flower (mag.) y> perianth; a anthers 

 adherent to the leaves of the perianth. 



Order. 3. BALANOPHORACEiE. Parasites devoid of chlorophyll 

 and without foliage-leaves, with a deformed vegetative body. 

 Flowers dioecious or monoecious, in many- flowered inflorescences. 

 The staminate flowers have usually a 3-4-lobed perianth. The 

 carpellary flowers have usually no perianth, and consist of a one- 

 seeded ovary of 1-3 carpels : the ovule is suspended, and it fre- 

 quently adheres closely to the ovary ; an integument is present in 

 Cynomorium. The embryo is very small. 



Balanophora, Lophophytum, and others are Brazilian genera ; others 

 (Mystropetalon, Sarcophyte) inhabit tropical Africa ; Cynomorium coccineum is 

 found in the Mediterranean region. 



