86 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



upwards the calyx and corolla (each with its leaves free), a hypo- 

 gynous androceum, and a pluricarpellary pistil. The sepals are 

 five in number, unlike,' and quincuncially imbricated in the bud. 

 The petals, also live in number, alternate with the sepals and are 

 imbricated in :estivation.' The stamens are grouped in as many 



bundles as there are sepals, 

 to which they are superposed. 

 Each bundle consists of a 

 flattened tongue-like stalk, 

 single below, and divided near 

 its apex into three^ short 

 branches, each bearing a basi- 

 iixed, two-celled, introrse an- 

 ther, dehiscing longitudinally.'* 

 Internally is a fourth stamen, 

 whose filament adheres to 

 that common to the three 

 outer stamens, and only be- 

 comes free on a level with its 

 anther, which resembles the 

 others. The gynseceum con- 

 sists of five carpels opposite 

 the petals, each composed 

 of a unilocular ovar}'-, tapering above into a style with a 

 stigmatiferous tip.' The placenta occupies the inner angle of 

 the ovary, and supports two ascending anatropous ovules, of 

 which the raphe is in the first instance outward while the 

 micropyle looks downwards and inwards." The fruit, sur- 

 rounded by the persistent calyx (fig. 121) consists of five follicles, 

 which dehisce along the inner angle to free one or two seeds, 



Fio. 120. 

 Stamen. 



Candollea ciineiformis. 



Fig. 122. Fig. 123. Seed. 



Seed. Longitudinal section. 



' The more external they are, the more closely 

 they resemble the upper leaves (with the spiral 

 avruiigeinent of which theirs is contintious) both 

 in form and colour ; but the more internal they 

 arc in the bud, the shorter, the broader, and the 

 palor they become. 



2 The modt! ol this imbrication varies ; it may 

 become cpiincuncial, petals 1 and 3 then alter- 

 nating witli SL'pal 2. 



3 It often happens in this species that this 

 tongue bears four anthers. Counting the inner 

 stamen, we sec that eacli bundle is pentandrous. 



■• The anthers have here the form of a flattened 

 vertical bandlet, on the back of which the con- 

 nective alone is seen. The cells, which are ap- 

 plied along the length of the inner surfoce, 

 dehisce first above (fig. 120). 



^ This tip, scarcely dilated, becomes rapidly soft 

 and, as it were, pulpy, bounded by the more con- 

 sistent tissue of the subjacent portion of the style. 



•' Each has two very distinct coats, and the 

 circumference of the umbilicus becomes thickened 

 before flowering time into a small circular rim, 

 the rudiment of the aril. 



