140 



NATURAL mSTORY OF PLANTS. 



MnfjrKjlia} The fruit consists of an indefinite number of achenes, 

 which when ripe fall oft" the common axis, and are dispersed by 



Fig. 176. 

 Flower opened. 



Liriodetidron Tulljiifera. 

 Fio. 177. 

 Fruit. 



Fig. 178. 

 Longitudinal sei-tion of fruit. 



aid of the woody wing flattened from within outwards which sur- 

 mounts them.^ Each of these samaras contains one or two seeds, 

 which are constructed like those of Magnolia, but whose outer coat 

 is much thinner and membranous.'' Of this genus but one species 

 is known, L. Talijnfera,'' a native of North America, of which several 

 varieties are cultivated in Europe. It is a large tree, with alter- 



* Tlie Btylo is flnttened like a lanceolate leaf; 

 it is already a n-prcsL-ntaliou of the wing which 

 later on stirniountH the fruit on a small scale. 

 The dilated Mtignnitifcrous tij) is hut little hilid. 

 The ovides have two coats, and are susi)endcd by 

 narrow funicles. The raphe is internal, hut at 

 the same time the ovules are more or less back 

 to back, as in MnfjnoHa. 



' The wing is formed by the persistent com- 

 pressed style, whiih rest'ndiles a dry hardened 

 leaf. The basilar part is pr(»vide<l with a vertical 

 cruiit projecting slightly on Inilh surfaces. Down 

 the centre of these crcsUt is a line, but little 



visible, along which wo can determine the arti- 

 ficial separation of the fruit into two lateral halves 

 by using a thin blade. 



^ The raphe jiasses through the thickness of 

 this outer coat, which is not swollen and succulent 

 as in Miiifnolia, but whose fundamental structure 

 is just the same. The albumen is tieshy, and the 

 small embryo it contains towards its ajM'x is some- 

 what constricted at the junction of the radicle and 

 the cotyledons. 



* 1 ICKW, Icon. Selrct., t. 10.— L., S,>fr.. 

 7r>r.. Lamk.. Oivt.. loc. rit. : IllHstr., t. liU.— 

 DniAM., Arbr.,vil. 2, iii., 1. 18.— Micux., -ir4r. 



