516 



BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



(Fig. 169, iii. p. 222). If these conclusions be correct, then the Cyathium 

 is properly regarded as a condensed inflorescence. 



The fruit is a capsule ; when it is ripe the carpels separate elastically from a 

 central column. This type of carpel, though in larger number, is seen in Hura 

 (Fig. 94, p. 134), another member of the Family. This type of carpel is known 

 as a coccus, hence the name Tricoccae, for the number is usually three. The 

 similarity to the fruit of the Geraniaceae is striking. 



Fig. 421. 

 Euphorbia Lathyris,!^. I. flowering shoot. II. a single cyathium. III. Cyathium 

 with involucre rernoved. IV. same in section. V. the involucre. Yl. a single male 

 flower. VII. ripe seed with caruncle. VIII. same in section. IX. diagram of a 

 cvathium. 



Pollination. The stigmas in any Cyathium have as a rule ceased to be 

 receptive before the pollen of the same cyathium is shed. Thus the in- f; 



florescences are protogynous. 



ORDER : SAXIFRAGALES. 

 I 



The Saxifragales probably represent a type from which a number of deriva- 

 tive groups have sprung. A general floral formula for them is S. n, P. n, 

 And. n +n, G. n, with the ovary superior, and in the simplest examples, such as 

 Astilbe, the carpels arc separate and many -seeded pods. This type may be varied 



