46 



NATURAL mSrOItY OF PLANTS. 



in many Anemones;, and because the species of Adorns have also the 

 sinp^ular character, that of their ovules, at first five in number, the 

 inlbriur one alone is completely developed and usually becomes pen- 

 dulous,' with the raphe dorsal and the micropyle turned upwards 

 and inwards. The fruits of the Adonids are more fleshy than those 

 of the Anemones before they are perfectly matured ; indeed, at one 

 stage they form true drupes." The total number of pieces in the 

 perianth varies as in the Anemones. The}^ are amiual herbs, like, 

 for example, J. autitmnaJis L., vulgarly known as "Pheasant's Eye" 

 (Fr. Gouffc-dc-scDif/, fig. 83), or perennials, whose subterranean part 

 grows in the same way as in the xA-uemones. This is especially the 



I 



Adonis auiumnalis. 

 Fig. 83. 

 Flower. 



Adonis vernalis. 

 Fig. 84. 

 Flower. 



( 



case with A. vernalis L. (fig. 84), and in the closely allied species which 



' We have shown {Adansonia, ii. 209) that 

 in the section Consiligo the ovules are some- 

 times pendulous with the ovule upwards 

 and inwards, and sometimes ascending with the 

 micropyle downwards and inwards ; but all this 

 amounts to the same, as it only depends on the 

 preat relative increase of the back of the carpel 

 in its lower or u\)]k't part. As to the existence 

 of five ovules in the first stage of the carpels, it 

 is easy to show in the young flowers of A. 

 auiumnalis and (estivalis L., and in the ripe 

 state we find the four superior ovules as small, 

 cellular projections {Adansonia, i. 335). 



' The fruits of A. vernalis are arranged on 

 the accrescent receptacle in a spiral order, of 

 which may be clearly seen the three secondary 

 spirals in one direction, and five in the other. 

 The fruits dry up raj)idly on falling off the axis. 



15ut if we examine them hefore their fidl, we see 

 that each is a true drupe, with the style i>ersisting 

 as a little recurved horn. The mesocarp is tieshy ; 

 the endocarp represents a dark, foveolate, tes- 

 taceous, brittle shell. The seed is usually as- 

 cending, even when it succeeds a descending 

 ovule; this is owing to the uneipial growth of 

 the diti'erent parts of the fruit as it ripens. The 

 hilum is turned downwards and inwards ; but 

 not quite inferior, as the seed is now only hemi- 

 tropous, and the micropyle is much lower and 

 more exterior. The seed has two very distinct 

 coats ; the outer of loosely packed cells, the other 

 of more compacted elements. In A. cestivalls, 

 too, the seed is covered with a foveolate, thick, 

 very hard shell, and by a mesocarp which is 

 at first fleshy and greenish. In both species the 

 ovule has two coats. 



