248 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



they united edge to edge to form a one-celled ovary with parietal 

 placentas. All other AnonacecB are what have been termed poli/- 

 carpicccp. 



IV. The aspect of the anthers. — These are introrse in Eupomatia 

 only, lateral or extrorse in all the other genera. 



In the third rank come characters that are undoubtedly of less 

 importance than the preceding, as different ones are absent in 

 several genera more or less closely allied. They can only serve 

 to distinguish these genera, or at most to separate them into sub- 

 series, such as we have had to establish in the immense series 

 Anonea. We will especially call attention to the following : — 



The type of the verticils of the perianth. — These are almost 

 always trimerous. But the binary type is found in and characterizes 

 Tet r ripe f alum among the Uvariea, and Disepaliim among the Unoneee. 



The presence of dor.sal appendages on the petals. — These only 

 exist in the secondary group, RoUinea, and their form may serve to 

 distinguish its four genera. 



The absence of the outer corolla has only been ascertained in the 

 genus Enantia. 



The consistency and dehiscence of the pericarp. — In Anaxar/orca 

 alone does the fruit consist of true follicles. This one point cha- 

 racterizes the genus. The fruits of Xylopia and Cymhopetalum, if they 

 open at all, do not open in so marked and complete a way. In 

 all other AnonacecB the pericarp is indehiscent, and the fruit con- 

 sists of more or less fleshy berries. 



There are, finally, characters which, though we cannot refuse them 

 a great value in particular cases, must be relegated to the last place ; 

 for, as shown above, they never possess that absolute significance 

 which was often accorded to them at a time when the Anonact'ie 

 studied were relatively few in number. On enumerating these 

 characters in succession, we shall see under what exceptional 

 circumstances they may acquire sufficient importance to become 

 tiie stamp of a genus, or even a sub-tribe of the order.' 



1. The prajlloration. — It has no value as regards tlie calyx, lor 

 in one single genus we may Ihid the sepals imbricate, valvate, and 



' M(wt of tlic'HC have l)wii iilrr-mly iliMtisM-d liy wo must refer the reader for n ilwiloinuent of 

 lis in tlic Hiieciiil memoir mi the Aminiu-ra \\f. tlie Diihject uiisuited to tho present work. 

 imliliHlied m AJattsonin (viii. 1«'(2, 2110), to whicli 



