LEGUMINOSJE-CJ^MJ'TX 1 1:_ K. 



117 



(figs. 92-95). It is completely outside the two lateral sepals 

 (4 and 3), of which 4 is overlapped on both sides, while 3 overlaps 5 

 on the other ; this last petal is posterior, like 2, which overlaps on 

 both sides. Sepal 2 is a little larger than 1, while 4 and 5 are much 

 the thinnest and largest of all. 1 The corolla consists of five 

 alternating petals, which may be of nearly equal sizes or else 



Cassia fioribunda'. 



Fig. 93. 

 Flower (f). 



Fig. 94. 

 Diaarram. 



Fig. 95. 

 Longitudinal section of fruit. 



unequal : the posterior, termed the vexillary petal, is quite in- 

 ternal in the bud, usually most dissimilar to the rest : while the 

 enveloping lateral petals are symmetrical to one another ; they are 

 overlapped by the anterior pair, of which again one overlaps the other 

 along the anterior edge (fig. 94). The androceum consists of two 

 quinary whorls of stamens, five superposed to the sepals, five to the 

 petals. Of the former set the three superposed to the anterior sepals 

 are fertile and usually the largest of all ; of the latter the four anterior, 

 though much smaller, are also fertile. The remaining three are 

 represented by little membranous sterile scales. Of the seven fertile 

 stamens each possesses a free hypogynous filament, which is longer 

 and more curved as it is more anterior ; and a basifixed tetragonal 

 two-celled anther, at first divided into four locelli, and opening at the 

 apex, which forms a beak of variable form, by two short clefts that - 

 unite on top, so as to mark out a little introrse triangular flap with its 

 base downwards. 2 The ovary, supported on a foot of variable length 



1 On the floral symmetry of Cassia, see 

 H. Bn., in Adansonia, ix. 212. 



a The pollen consists of elongated grains in 

 three, or more rarely one or two furrows. 

 H. MonL {Ann. Sc. Nat., sor. 2, iii. 342,) dis- 



tinguishes these species of the genus Cassia, 

 where the grains when moistened become 

 spheres with three smooth bands (C Triniiatis), 

 and those where the bands are papillate (C. 

 hiflora, Icevigata, maryiandica.) 



