332 ON SEEDLINGS 



fruit of species of that genus grows very unequally, so that the 

 style is sometimes turned on one side till close to the pedicel. 

 As might be expected, the seed generally conforms in shape to 

 the loculus of the bony endocarp. The embryo is large, and 

 occupies the whole of the seed. The cotyledons are in most 

 cases foliaceous, aerial, and more or less contorted or twisted 

 so as to occupy the whole of the available space ; the short 

 radicle is superior. Hedwigia and Amyris have thick, fleshy, 

 plano-convex, or almond-shaped straight cotyledons. 



Some genera present still more remarkable exceptions ; 

 such as Trigonochlamys, which has deeply lobed cotyledons ; 

 Santiria, with irregularly cut cotyledons; Bursera, where 

 they are sometimes trifid ; and Boswellia, where they are 

 multifid. In Canarium commune they are tripartite, auricled 

 at the base, where they clasp or sheathe the radicle, which is 

 stout, fleshy, and projects slightly beyond them. Two of the 

 cotyledonary lobes occupy the dorsal aspect of the seed, while 

 the rest occupy the ventral part, and are confusedly contorted 

 or twisted one with another. In the mature seed they are 

 soft, fatty, and taste like the kernel of the Brazil Nut (Berthol- 

 letia excelsa). One species of Bursera has the cotyledons 

 curved like a horse-shoe, while the embryo of Crepidospermum 

 Sprucei is green and similarly curved. 



Seedlings. The Order consists of about 150 species, natives 

 of the tropical parts of both hemispheres, and, not being very 

 popular for horticultural purposes, seedlings are seldom to be 

 seen in this country. 1 have only met with those of Canarium 

 strictum (fig. 237). 



In this species the first and several succeeding leaves 

 are simple, ovate, acuminate, and serrate. The adult ones 

 are imparipinnate, with opposite and very coriaceous, serrate 

 leaflets. A few species have leaves consisting of one or three 

 leaflets in the adult stage, and in some cases the leaflets 

 are entire. 



Canarium commune, L. 



Fruit drupaceous, ovoid or ellipsoid, trigonous, three-celled but 

 only one-seeded by abortion of all the ovules except one, which con- 

 forms to the single cell, outgrowing and crushing the others ; epicarp 



