440 



PASSION-FLOWER TRIBE. 



of no consequence which we denominate them. In the centre 



of the flower, 

 from the bot- 

 torn of the 

 calyx, rises a 

 column ; at 

 the top of 

 which we ob- 

 serve five an- 

 thers. The 

 column itself, 

 of which the 

 outside re- 



FIG. 161. A, SKCTION OF PASSION-FLOWER. B, CENTRAL COLUMN, sembles in CO- 

 shmving the three styles at the top ; the five anthers, a, a ; the 



tube, ft, b, formed by the cohesion of the filaments ; c, the innermost lour the SUr- 

 ring of the undeveloped petals ; d, the origin of the petals; e, the i- i 



origin of the ca yx. rounding DO- 



dies, consists 



of an exterior sheath, formed by the adhesion of the filaments to 

 each other, and of an interior solid stalk, on the top of which 

 the ovary is mounted. The ovary, when cut across, is found to 

 consist of but one cavity ; the ovules, however, are attached to 

 three parietal placentas (as in the Violet), showing that the seed- 

 vessel is composed of three carpels; and the summit of the 

 ovarium bears three short styles, which terminate in thick 

 swollen stigmas. The fruit is a fleshy egg-shaped body, con- 

 taining a number of pulpy seeds ; but it varies extremely in size 

 and colour, in the different species. In all instances, kowever, 

 it is destitute of any injurious principle, and may be eaten with 

 safety. In the common Passion-flower, it is about as large as a 

 hen's egg, and orange-yellow on its exterior ; in some tropical 

 species, called Grenadillas, it is much larger, attaining the size 

 of a man's head, and is greener in its colour. These are culti- 

 vated on account of the slightly acid pulp they contain, which 

 renders them refreshing ; and the rind, which is also a little acid, 

 is cut into slices and made into tarts, which have somewhat the 

 flavour of those made of apples. The substance which surrounds 

 the seeds is not mere pulp, but is a sort of fleshy coat, termed the 



