6 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



a variable pignoration. Thus in C. glabra, 1 they are valvate, or 

 may even not touch at all by their edges in the very young bud 

 (tig. 11). In other species, such as C.ferruginea? they are narrowly 

 imbricated, or more rarely contorted. The androceum consists of 

 ten stamens, five superposed to the sepals, and five, smaller, to the 

 petals ; for a short distance they are all united by the base of their 

 filaments, which then become free, and bear an introrse two-celled 

 anther dehiscing longitudinally. 3 On the expansion of the flower 



Cnestis glabra. 



Fig. 9. 

 Flower. 



Fig. 11. 

 Diagram. 



Fig. 10. 

 Longitudinal section of flower. 



the much elongated apex of the filament is reflexed outwards, 

 inverting the anther so as to make it extrorse. The gyn secern n 

 consists of five oppositipetalous carpels, whose ovaries are sessile, 

 each surmounted by a usually short style, truncate or more or less 

 dilated and stigmatiferous at the apex. In each ovary we find two 

 collateral ascending ortliotropous or suborthotropous ovules, inserted 

 towards the base of the ovary ; their micropyles are superior. The 

 calyx may or may not be persistent, often reflexed around the fruit, 

 but it is never accrescent ; the fruit consists of one or more sessile 

 follicles, often tapering at the base, covered with velvety down, and 

 lined by long, rigid, stinging hairs. 4 They contain an erect seed, 



1 Lamk., Diet., loc. cit., n. 1 ; III., t. 387, 

 fig. 1. — DC, Prodr., n. 1. — Sarmienta cauli- 

 Jlora Sieb., Fl. Maur. Exs., p. ii. n. 285. 



2 DC, Prodr., ii. 87, n. 3.— C. fraterna 

 Pl., loc. cit., 440. — Spondioides ferruginea 

 Smeathm., herb. 



3 In certain species such as C. ferruginea 

 DC, each anther-cell is prolonged downwards 

 into a sort of point which is turned up when the 

 anther is reversed so as to he extrorse. 



4 The hairs have two different seats in the 

 fruit of Cnestis. One kind of hair (only found 

 in certain species) is found on the exterior 

 epidermis of the pericarp. The hairs are 

 greatly developed in C. corniculata Lasix., 



where they are stinging, which fact accounts for 

 the name Agelcec. prurit nt, given to that species 

 by Solandf.B. Under a sufficient magnifying 

 power they appear simple, unicellular, and taper- 

 ing to a long point. Around the base are seen 

 a large number of younger hairs, projecting but 

 slightly, though similar in form; besides pro- 

 minent conical obovate or clavate nucleated cells 

 containing a coloured fluid. On the whole of 

 the inner surface of the pericarp all the species 

 possess similar pointed unicellular hairs in great 

 abundance and closely pressed together; in some 

 pericarps they may be counted by thousands. 

 These also sting, we are told, in the fresh state. 

 This property has given the names of Grattelier 



