378 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



There are twenty stamens, echelonned in wliorls on the upper part of 

 the inside of the receptacular tube. The highest five stamens are 

 exactly superposed to the sepals ; then come five superposed to the 

 petals ; and there are a<^ain below these a third whorl of ten, one on 

 either side of each of the latter set. These last may be absent, when 

 the androceum will consist of only ten pieces. The filament of each 



GiUenia fn folio fn. 



stamen is at first reflcxed on the wall of the tube, towards which is 

 turned the face of the anther ; but when the filament rises up, the anther 

 becomes introrse ; it has two cells and dehisces lon<,ntudiiially. The 

 receptacular tube is lined by a layer of «,'landuhir tissue; in the 

 bottom of this is inserted the gyna'ceum, consisting,' of five free 

 alternipetalous carpels, each formed of a one-celled ovary, sur- 

 mounted by a terminal style, sti«,nnatiferous at the apex. In the 

 internal -du^rh of tlic ovary is a placenta, bearing two rows of ascend- 



