86 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



upwards the calyx and corolla (each with its leaves free), a hypo- 

 gynous androceum, and a pluricarpellary pistil. The sepals are 

 five in number, unlike,' and quincuncially imbricated in the bud. 

 The petals, also five in number, alternate with the sepals and are 

 imbricated in aestivation.- The stamens are grouped in as many 



bundles as there are sepals, 

 to which they are superposed. 

 Each bundle consists of a 

 flattened tongue-like stalk, 

 single below, and divided near 

 its apex into three'' short 

 branches, each bearing a basi- 

 fixed, two-celled, introrse an- 

 ther, dehiscinglongitudinally.' 

 Internally is a fourth stamen, 

 whose filament adheres to 

 that common to the three 

 outer stamens, and only be- 

 comes free on a level with its 

 anther, which resembles the 

 others. The gynaeceum con- 

 sists of five carpels opposite 

 the petals, each composed 

 of a unilocular ovary, tapering above into a style with a 

 stigmatiferous tip.* The placenta occupies the inner angle of 

 the ovary, and supports two ascending anatropous ovules, of 

 which the raphe is in the first instance outward while the 

 micropyle looks downwards and inwards." The fruit, sur- 

 rounded by the persistent calyx (fig. 121) consists of five follicles, 

 which dcliisce along the inner angle to free one or two seeds, 



Fig. 120. 

 Stamen. 



Candollea cuneiformis. 



Fig. 122. Fig. 123. Seed. 



Seed. Longitudinal section. 



' Tlie more external they are, the more closely 

 they retjcmble the upjter leaves (with the spiral 

 arrangemeiit of which llieirs is continuous) both 

 in form and colour ; but the more internal they 

 are in the bud, the shortor, the broader, and the 

 j)aler they bcconie. 



- Tlie nKxh; ot this imbrication varies ; it may 

 become «|uincun(ial, petals I and 3 then alter- 

 nating witli sc'))al 2. 



' It ollen hiiiipens in this s|M>cic8 that this 

 tongue bears four antliers. Counting thf inner 

 Kt^imen, wc sc-e tliat each bundle in {tcntandruu*. 



* The anthers have here the form of a flattened 

 vertical bandlet, on the back of which the con- 

 nective alone is seen. The cells, which are ap- 

 plied along the lengtli of the inner surface, 

 dehisce first above (fig. 120). 



* This tiji, scarcely dilatetl, becomes rapidly soft 

 and, as it were, pulpy, Iwundwl by the more con- 

 sistent tissue of the subjacent portion of tiie style. 



' Each has two very distinct coatti, and the 

 circumference of tlicnmbilicus becomes thickem'd 

 before tlowering time into a small circular rim, 

 the rudiment of the aril. 



