IW 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLAINTS. 



Mnr//io/ia.' The fruit consists of an indefinite number of achenes, 

 whicli when ripe iall off the common axis, and are dispersed by 



Fig. 175. 

 Flower. 



r-iri 



? 



Fig. 176. 

 Flower opened. 



Liriodendron Tulipifera. 

 Fig. 177. 

 Fruit. 



Fig. 178. 

 Lonsritudinal section of fruit. 



aid of the woody wing flattened from within outwards which sur- 

 mounts them.* Each of these samaras contains one or two seeds, 

 which are constructed like those of Magnolia, but whose outer coat 

 is much thinner and membranous.'' Of this genus but one species 

 is known, L. Tidipifera,^ a native of North America, of which several 

 varieties are cultivated in Europe. It is a large tree, with alter- 



' The style is flattened like a lanceolate leaf; 

 it is already a representation of tlie wing which 

 later on surmounts the fruit on a small scale. 

 The dilated stigmatiferous tip is but little bifid. 

 The ovules have two coats, and are suspended by 

 narrow funicles. The raphe is internal, but at 

 the same time the ovules are more or less back 

 to back, as in Mofinolia. 



* The wing is formed by the persistent com- 

 pressed style, whii-h resembles a dry hardened 

 leaf. The basilar part is provided with a vertical 

 crest priijecting slightly on both surfaces. Down 

 the centre of tliese crests is a line, but little 



visible, along which we can determine the arti- 

 ficial separation of the fruit into two lateral halves 

 by using a thin blade. 



^ The raphe passes through the thickness of 

 this outer coat, which is not swollen and succulent 

 as in MiignoUa, but whose fundamental structure 

 is just the same. The albumen is fleshy, and the 

 small embryo it contains towards its apex is some- 

 what constricted at the junction of the radicle and 

 the cotyledons. 



■* Tkew, Icon. Select., t. 10. — L., Spec, 

 755. — Lamk., Diet., loc. cif. ; Illusir., t. 491. — 

 DriiAii., Arbr., cd. 2, iii., 1. 18. — Micux., Arbr. 



