LEGUMINOS/E-MIMOSEJZ. 



47 



Affonsea juglandifolia. 



mm 



IS 



some distance to that of tlie corolla. 1 The ovary, tapering above 

 into a long slender style, contains a variable number of descending 

 ovules, in two rows. The pod is oval or oblong-, straight or some- 

 what bowed, woody, and indehiscent, with transverse false septa 

 separating the seeds. The two known species of the genus Seri- 

 anthes are inhabitants of tropical Africa and the Pacific ; 2 one of 

 them is also found in New Caledonia. 



Affonsea 3 has altogether the habit, simply pinnate leaves, and large 

 flowers of certain species of Inga. But its gynseceum consists of a 

 number of free carpels (from two to six), each, 

 however, being formed as in Inga, and similarly 

 becoming a few- or many-seeded pod. The an- 

 droceum and corolla are united for a certain 

 distance at the base, and the calyx forms a large 

 sac, often vesicular, with five valvate teeth. The 

 four known species of this genus 4 are Brazilian 

 trees, with paripinnate leaves, possessing per- 

 sistent stipules, and sessile or pedicellate racemose 

 flowers. 



The flowers of Arclddendron* come very near 

 Affonsea in corolla, androceum, and gymeceum. 

 This last is composed of from five to fifteen 

 carpels ; but the calyx here presents a tubular sac, 

 whose mouth is truncate and entire ; the pod is 

 coriaceous, bowed, irregularly twisted, and finally 

 opens into two valves. A. Vaittaniii? the only known species, is an 

 Australian tree, with bipinnate leaves, and shortly pedicellate flowers 

 in axillary umbels. Omitting the form of the calyx, Archidendron 

 may then be described as an Affonsea, with decompound leaves and 

 the fruit of Pithecolobium. 



Fig. 37. 



Longitudinal section of 

 Hower. 



Among the large Order Leguminosa, or pod-bearing plants, hardly 

 any representatives of the Mimosea were known to the older bota- 



1 In S. grandlflora Bentii., the filament is 

 inserted in the centre of a glandular connective 

 hearing the two cells of an introrse anther of 

 longitudinal dehiscence; externally this anther 

 appears as though formed of four indistinct 

 lohes. 



- Walp., Rep., v. 623 ; Ann., iv. 039. 



3 A. S. H., Voy. dans la Prov. des Diam., i. 



387.— Endi., Gen.,n. 6838.— Him n.. in Ifool: 

 Joarn., v. t. 1. — 13. II., Qen., 599, n. W.>. 



4 Wali\, Hep., i. 611. 



5 F. Mitell., Fra<jm..J , //;//.Ans/,;/f.. v. .">:>.— 

 1!. II., Gen., 1004, n. 397 a. 



6 F. Mtjeli., he. cit. — Pithi, i 

 lantii F. M i mi., / V igm., v. :'. i 

 (Pleioj)7iaca) Vaillantii V. MuELl., 



