28 1 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Within each is found an ascending seed, whose coats, closely 

 applied to the inside of the pericarp, inclose a very large lieshy 

 embryo with its radicle inferior, and with broad foliaceous coty- 

 ledons, spirally rolled on each other round a vertical axis. The 

 albumen is absent or represented by a few rudiments in the Iblds of 

 the embryo.' 



The genus CalycanthnH consists of aromatic shrubs with opposite 

 simple exstipukte leaves." Three species' are known, all natives of 

 North America. ('. Jhridus, the one we have just analysed, includes 

 several varieties cultivated in this country. Its flowers occupy the 



Califcanthus occideiiUilis. 



Fig. :U3. 

 Longitudinal section of fruit. 



axils of the fallen leaves. Each peduncle is provided with two 

 lateral leaves or bracts decussating with the two first bracts borne on 

 the receptacle ; and the same axil usual!}" contains, besides the 

 peduncle, a leafy branch, which later on becomes greatly developed, 

 and may even be terminated by a fiower.^ In C. occidctitalis,'' the 

 species with the largest flowers, the inflorescence is sometimes axil- 

 lary, sometimes terminal. 



' There is especially a little spit of fleshy 

 tissue running up from the clmluKiil region into 

 the centre of the embryo, and forinin^f, as it were, 

 an axis ri)und which the cotyknlons are rolled. 



- The bliide presents the same peculiarities as 

 in ClihnonanlhuM (j). 2S0, note i). 



=• DC, I'fodr., iii. 2.- Hook., liol. Afai/., t. 



li, 



fio 



Aim., vii. 45. 



4H()H. — Walv. 



(Jkay, Man., \2(;.—Toiiii. kiiii., Fl. N. A, 



475.— fiiAiM., Fl. >S. l^uil.Sl., 130. 



* Thus it is that the flowers of Cali/ranthus, 

 described us axillary, may become perfectly ter- 

 minal. 



* Hook. & Aun., np. Bkecu., 810, Suppl.. t. 

 84. — Touii. & lilt., o]>. ell., 47(>. In this species, 

 wlien the fruit is (|uite rij)e, tbe urillce of tlie n- 

 ceptacnlar wic gradually enlarges without any rup- 

 ture, and tlie aciienes nuiy pass (aU thnnigli tliis 

 oriflce, whidi is fringeil witl> velvety riHls, (lie 

 byjiertropiruil 8lamiiiodi>s (tigs. 312, 313). 



