16 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



large number of stamens spirally arranged,' but forming twelve 

 secondary radiating rows in tlie following positions* — 1st, three rows 

 opposite each of the outer sepals ; 2ndly, one row opposite each 

 interior sepal. All the stamens of the rows opposite the interior sepals 

 are fertile, each consisting of a free filament, somewhat dilated at the 

 tip, supporting a basifixed bilocular introrse anther dehiscing longi- 

 tudinally.' But in six of the other rows the outermost stamen is trans- 

 formed into a little spuror nectary like that of other Hellebores'(fig.29). 

 The gyna?ceum is composed of six carpels'^ opposite these staminodes, 

 and formed like those of the true Hellebores. The fruits are follicles 

 dehiscing early" to free the numerous seeds.' Each follicle is raised on 

 a narrow pedicel, in contact with, but not cohering to the pedicels of 

 its neighbours. The whole is surrounded by a persistent calyciform 

 involucre,' the three leaves of which alternate with the outer pieces 

 of the perianth. The organs of vegetation of //. hiiemaJix consist of 

 a shortened rhizome' like that of other Hellebores bearing adventi- 

 tious roots, and shoots with leaves and flowers. The flowers arise 

 from the ground in winter, supported on a peduncle which it termi- 

 nates, and closely surrounded by the involucre of three compound 

 leaves, alternate with the outer sepals referred to above. The radical 

 leaves, few in number, and withering very early, are alternate, palmi- 

 veined, and dissected. We know but very few species of Eranthix 



(1807) 303. — DC, Trodr., i, 46. — SPACir, 

 Suil. a Bvff., vii. 321.— Endl., Qen., n. 4788. 

 — Payek, Orgatiog., 2oC). — H. Bn., Adamonia, 

 ii. 203, iv. 47.— B. U., Oen., 7, n. 19.— 

 Helleboroides Adans., Fam. PL, ii. 458. 



' This order is very evident in the yoiin;; 

 flower-bud. 



* Payer, Organorj., loc. c'xt. 



•■• Tlie anther ojjens by two internal somewhat 

 oblique clefts, aft<!r which each cell spreads out 

 edgewise as in Columbine. It usually even hap- 

 pens that the inner margin of tlie oi)cned cell 

 becomes more or less involute, and the outer 

 margin rcvolute. 



* In form like a stalked cornet, with its orifice 

 truncated ohrKpuly downwards and inwards, and 

 the lower and inner margin enuirginate. The 

 inside contains nectar. The origin of these bodies, 

 shown for the first time by 1'aykk (/. c»<.), who 

 did not consider them as jjetiilK, and was hence led 

 to regard as such the outer pieces of the perianth, 

 this, we say, well shows the niittire of the so- 

 called petal's in the Hellem.res theinselvcH and 



in many other Hanunculacetp (See Adanwnia, 

 iv., 19). 



* The usual number ; rarely five, oftener from 

 seven to ten in cultivated j)lants. 



" Often nearly a month after flowering, that 

 is to say, at the end of the winter. 



^ These seeds are at first soft, with very thin 

 coats, and very abundant fleshy albumen. They 

 often attain maturity without the embryo be- 

 coming developed ; it remains very small and 

 deformed, probably through not havinjr been 

 fecundated. Often, too, Eranthis like Ficnria 

 jinxluces no fruit. 



** Payeu (/. cil.) considers that this verticil 

 rejiresents a calyx. In this resjHvt Eranlhis is 

 very analogous to llepalica, showing that in 7^1- 

 )iuiu-ulace<e there is an insensible tnuisition from 

 involucre to calyx, from calyx to corolla, and from 

 corolla to androceum ; which indicati>i<, as we 

 hiive staled, a sort of organic inferiority (See our 

 article on Aiitmuuf below, and Adansonia, 



iv. r,). 



» Payku, Hist, de la vfij.de /'Kranthis (//.<//. 

 S„r. Phil., April 27. \Hvi, a.-'i). 



