134 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



dilated at the apex, 1 bears a calycine perianth and an androceum 

 below the unicarpellary g}m3eceum. The cal} T x consists of four 

 sepals, two lateral, one anterior, and one posterior. This last is 

 usually the broadest, really representing two calycine leaves, traces 

 of which are sometimes to be found in its more or less deeply notched 

 apex. 2 The prsefloration is variably imbricate, the sepals overlapping 



Copaifera officinalis. 



Fig. 12 k 

 Flower (|). 



Fig. 125. 

 Longitudinal section of flower. 



Fig. 126. 

 Fruit (|). 



Fig. 127. 

 Longitudinal section of fruit. 



Fig. 128. 

 Embryo (f). 



greatly when the edges thin off slowlv, and scarcely imbricated when 

 the edges are thick and only abruptly bevelled (fig. 124). The 

 stamens are in two tetra- or pentamerous whorls ; the longer are 

 superposed to the sepals, and when there are five, it is through 

 two being in front of the posterior sepal. The shorter ones alternate 



1 In C. officinalis we have been able to make 

 out in the fresh flower that within the insertion 

 of the perianth and androceum there is a very 



short cupule of glandular tissue surrounding the 

 foot of the gynseceum. 



2 Here ami there we find a calyx with five leaves, 

 or even, though very rarely, with only three. 



