LEG UMIN0S2E- GJS8ALFINIE. K . 99 



petals are five in number, of which the posterior is superposed to 

 the posterior sepals. 1 The stamens are ten in number, 2 and the 

 gymeceum is inserted slightly excentrically by a slender foot. The 

 ovary contains numerous descending ovules, and is surmounted by 

 a style which is slightly dilated at its stigmatiferous apex. Two 

 species 3 of this genus are known, fine trees from the west of tropical 

 Africa; their leaves are paripinnate, with only one or two pairs of 

 broad coriaceous leaflets, and the very large flowers, covered with 

 brownish velvety down, form short subterminal racemes. 



The Tamarind-tree 4 (Fr., Tamarinier ; tigs. 7^3-76) has the same 

 floral symmetry as the preceding genera, but certain abortions occur 

 in the corolla and androceum. The receptacle forms a long tubular 

 cavity, on whose rim are borne four imbricate sepals, of which the 

 posterior one really represents two calycine leaves. The corolla has 

 but three petals, one posterior, and two lateral which overlap the 

 former in the bud. 5 The androceum consists of nine stamens, as in 

 Heterostemon, Elisabetha, &c, the one exactly superposed to the 

 vexillary petal being absent. The rest are far from being all 

 fertile ; this is only the case with those superposed to the three 

 anterior sepals. These three have subulate filaments, becoming free 

 above to support an introrse two-celled anther which dehisces longi- 

 tudinally ; the six others are reduced to sterile tongues above, while 

 the lower parts of their filaments are united into a long curved tube 

 cleft posteriorly. The gynseceum, inserted on top of the posterior 

 wall of the receptacular tube, consists of a stipitate ovary ending in 

 a curved style, slightly dilated at its stigmatiferous apex. The ovary 

 contains a variable number of slightly descending anatropous ovules, 

 whose microp3 r les look upwards and outwards. The fruit, or tamarind 

 (Fr., tamarin), is straight, elongated, subcylindrical or somewhat 

 flattened, with its margins continuous or irregularly pinched in 

 between the seeds (fig. 73). Its epicarp is pretty thick, crustaceous 

 and fragile; the thick pulpy mesocarp, gorged with acidulous jui 



: This is the largest of the sepals, and reprc- Lajik., Diet., vii. 561; Snppl., i. 2S 1 : 



sents the two posterior leaves of the calyx. t. 25. — J., Gen., 317. — G.kktn., Fittct., ii. 310, 



2 Their filaments are reflexed in the bud, and t. 146.— DC, Prodr., ii. 488. — Spach, & 



then their versatile anthers are lodged in the JBuffon, i. 111. — Endl., Gen., n. 6778. 1!. II.. 



space between the gynseceum and the walls of Gen., 5S1, n. 348. 

 the receptacle. 5 It is only exceptionally thai we find 



8 " Vel unius varietates." (Benth.) posterior petal overlapping the lateral oi 



4 Tamarindus T., Inst, 660, t. 115. — L., in fig. 75) on both sides or on one only. (Sec 



Gen., n. 46.— ADAKS., Fam. des PL, ii. 319.— Agaedh, Tk-eor., 212.) 



II 2 



