178 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



stipules small caducous ; flowers in axillary simple or terminal 

 branched racemes ; bracts caducous ; bractlets (Tropical America). 

 Seep. 109. 



44. Schizolobium Vog. — Flowers of Tachigali ; mouth of recep- 

 tacle rather less oblique. Legume unequally obovate, compressed 

 1 -seeded 2-valved; endocarp membranous subligneous, separating 

 from membranous exocarp. Seed at apex of fruit, inclosed in winged 

 separating endocarp, oblong compressed ; albumen horny thick ; 

 embryo compressed ; radicle straight exserted. — Lofty trees ; leaves 

 alternate 2-pinnate ; leaflets small co ; flowers in axillary simple or 

 terminal branched racemes ; bracts small caducous ; bractlets 

 (Tropica/ America). See p. 110. 



V. BAUHINIE^. 



45. Bauhinia Plum. — Flowers hermaphrodite or more rarely 

 polygamous, irregular resupinate ; receptacle lined by a disk, either 

 shortly turbinate or tubular. Calyx, before anthesis entire and 

 closed or contracted and shortly 5-toothed ; on anthesis cleft in a 

 variable manner or spathe-like ; valvate or imbricated in aestivation. 

 Petals 5, slightly or very unequal, imbricated ; highest petal inner- 

 most. Stamens 10, perigynous ; either all perfect and fertile ; anthers 

 introrse 2-celled 2-rimose versatile ; filaments free or connate to a 

 variable height ; or else 1-9 reduced to sterile staminodes or alto- 

 gether wanting. Germen subsessile or more frequently stipitate 

 rarely furnished with a gland above base, central or excentric, in- 

 serted anteriorly on receptacle, 2- ce-ovulate ; style terminal ; apex 

 variably dilated or peltate, stigmatiferous. Legume oblong or 

 linear, straight oblique or falcate, membranous coriaceous or sub- 

 carnose, continuous within or replete or septate between seeds, inde- 

 hiscent or 2-valved. Seeds subglobose or ovoid, compressed ; testa 

 thin or hard; embryo albuminous; cotyledons flat; radicle short, 

 straight, oblique, or subinflexed, usually exserted. — Trees or erect 

 or climbing shrubs; stem terete or unequally compressed or flattened, 

 fasciated ; branches often furnished with simple tendrils at base of 

 racemes; leaves simple, 1-3-veined, entire or 2-lobed,or often 

 2-foliolate ; end of petiole rather prominent between leaflets, awned ; 

 stipules of variable form, often caducous ; flowers in simple terminal 



