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NATURAL HISTOEY OF PLANTS. 



Helleborus foetidvs. 

 Fig. :Kt. Fig. 31. 



Longitudinal section Calyx and gynaceum. 



of flower. 



carpels, surrounded by the persistent calyx, and containing seeds with 

 minute embryos, and* abundant fiesliy albumen. 



lLf(£tidus is a perennial with 

 erect branches arising from 

 a fleshy stock, covered with 

 alternate dissected leaves with 

 their petioles dilated at the 

 base.' The flowers are grouped 

 in few-flowered cymes at the 

 top of the upper branches, 

 the whole forming a kind of 

 thyrsus. The lowest leaves 

 of the branches and the bracts 

 are reduced to dilated flattened petioles. Large bracts are seen 

 also in an intermediate stage, having a very much reduced blade at 

 the summit. 



Other Hellebores cultivated in our gardens, as H. odorus W. & 

 K., viridis L., orientalis Gars., have erect branches bearing soli- 

 tary terminal flowers, or few flowered cymes, with some dis- 

 sected leafy bracts. Another species, often cultivated under the 

 name of " Christmas Rose" {H. niger L.), is distinguished by its 

 quite peculiar habit and the absence of any leaves but bracts on its 

 floriferous branches. It has a petaloid calyx, and about thirteen 

 horn-shaped nectaries, with irregularly crenulate mouths, supported 

 on slender claws." The anthers open by two longitudinal sub- 

 lateral clefts.^ There are from five to ten carpels. The flowers may 

 be solitary at the end of the peduncle, which bears two alternate 

 bracts ; one of these, however, is often fertile, a secondary axis spring- 

 ing from its axil, also with two bracts below its terminal flower.^ 



The subterranean part of the Christmas Rose is a ramified stem 

 bearing alternate scales or their scars, near which the branches 

 develope adventitious roots. Each of the branches ends in an 



' All these parts exhale a fetid odour, owing to 

 the liquid secreted by little glands spread over 

 the lea\'e;!, the calyces and the axes. 



- The bott<jin of this nectary, thickened and 

 glandular, secretes a sweet liquid in abundance. 

 Its opening is truncated obUquely downwards 

 and inwards. 



^ These clefts are rather interior than exterior. 



and the connective is seen only on the outside of 

 the anther. The pollen is elongated, as in all 

 these plants, with three equidistant (rarely tw'o 

 or one) longitudinal grooves. 



■• Sometimes too, under each flower we have 

 three alternate bracts, two of which may be 

 fertile. 



