MONIMIACE^. 



299 



being early freed by the floral sac spreading widely after anthesis, 

 or falling oif in a single circular piece, are only discovered much 

 later, for the common envelope which concealed them does not 

 divide irregularly until complete maturity is nearly attained. 



In Monimia} (figs. 337-343) the flowers are regular and dioecious. 

 The male flowers consist of a perianth formed by a nearly ovoidal 

 sac, and a very large number of stamens inserted in a spiral over the 

 whole inner surface of this common envelope. This at first only 



Monimia citrina. 



Fig. 337. 

 Male flower (f). 



Fig. 339. 

 Stamen. 



Fig. 338. 

 Long', section of male flower. 



opens by a very small pore at the apex ; but on anthesis, it is split 

 downwards from this pore into a variable number of unequal strips 

 which become spreading or even reflexed to discover the stamens (fig. 

 340). These each consist of a basifixed introrse two-celled anther, de- 

 hiscing longitudinally, and a filament of variable length with two late- 

 ral sessile or stipitate glands, varying in form with the age and species. 

 The female flowers possess a perianth like that of the male flowers, 

 but with a larger opening at the top, whose margin is divided into 

 several equal or unequal teeth. Through this opening pass the long 

 styles, obtuse and stigmatiferous at the apex, and continuous with 

 the one-celled ovaries, which are inserted towards the bottom of the 

 receptacular sac. The fruit is multiple, consisting of drupes collected 



' Monimia Dttp.-Th., Hist. Veg. Afriq. Austr. 

 (1S04), 35, t. 9.— Endl. Gen., 2015.— Tukp., 

 Did. lies Sc. Nat., t. 21)0.— TUL., Mo)i., 307, 

 t. xxix. ii. — A. DC.,Prod):,s.vl, s. post,, 661. — 



H. Bn., Adamonia, ix. 117. — Amhora BOK., Toy., 

 \. 31, 1. 13 (nee J.). — MiiHi spec. SiUiEXO., Syst. 

 Ve(/.,u. 487. — Eugenia: spec. PoiK., Diet., Snppl., 

 iii. 124. 



