284 SPORES AND GLANDS. 



(137) Kamala. 



The glands and hairs that cover the fruit of Mallotus 

 philippinensis, Mull. Arg. (N.O. Euphorbiaceae) . 



The heterogeneous nature of kamala is visible even to the 

 naked eye. Under the microscope it is seen to consist of 

 minute, dark red, rounded glands, and groups of thick-walled 

 hairs. Grains of sand and portions of vegetable debris are often 

 also present. 



The glands have the shape of flattened spheres. Each of 

 them consists of a delicate membrane, enclosing a number of 

 elongated cells that radiate from a common centre, and are 

 enlarged at their free extremities. The red colour of the con- 

 tents of the gland is often so deep as to obscure the structure, 

 but it can be removed by solution of caustic potash. The 

 appearance of the gland varies somewhat with the position in 

 which it is viewed and with the plane that is focussed. Viewed 

 from the side the cells assume a fan-like arrangement ; from 

 above or below they appear to radiate from a centre. 



The hairs are usually grouped in tufts ; they are thick- 

 walled, bluntly-pointed, and divergent. 



