PLACENTAS AND STIGMAS 227 



If, on the other hand, the seeds are attached to 

 the inner angles of the cells (or to the central column 

 in which the partitions of the ovary meet), the placenta- 

 tion is termed axile. Axile placentation occurs in most 

 families, in practically all those in which the ovary 

 has more than one cell, e.g. in GOSSYPIUM, HIBISCUS, 

 CITRUS the Orange, and PYRUS the Pear and Apple. 



In two or three families, the ovary consists of but 

 one cell with a large central placenta which is not 

 attached to the wall. This is termed a free central 

 placenta. In others there is only one seed and that 

 is attached to the base of the ovary, as in the com- 

 mon ANTIGONON, and the Docks. This placentation 

 is termed basal. The Water-lilies (NYMPH^ACE^) 

 are peculiar in that the seeds are not arranged on 

 placentas but scattered all over the inside of the cells. 



THE STYLE AND STIGMA 



2. In C^ESALPINIA the style rises from the top of 

 the ovary, not quite in the middle, but (as can be 

 seen best in young fruits) from nearer the upper edge, 

 and curves slightly upwards and backwards, ending 

 abruptly in a slightly sticky part the stigma. In the 

 ordinary HIBISCUS, or Shoe-flower which is grown in 

 gardens, the style rises up quite centrally from the top 

 of the five-celled ovary, and divides at the end into 

 five branches, each with a fairly large round velvetty 

 ball its stigma. In Hypericum and in Biophytum 

 there are five styles while in GYNANDROPSIS, CLEOME, 

 and CRAT^EVA (figs. 8 and 10), and in ARGEMONE and 

 PAPAVER there is no style at all, the stigma resting 

 (sessile) on the top of the ovary. 



