384 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



of the peduncle is obliquely inserted a simple coloured perianth 1 of 5 

 somewhat dissimilar leaves, whose edges touch below 3 to form a long 



Embothrium (Oreocallis) grandijlorum. 



f 



Fig. 211, Fig. 215. 

 Seed (f). Seed opened. 



Fig. 210. Fig 211. Fig. 212. 



Flower (3.). Longitudinal section of Flower. Diagram. 



Fig. 213. 

 Fruit. 



Soc, x. 195. — Exdl., Gen., n. 2152; Suppl., 

 iv. p. ii. 88. — Meissn., in DC, Prodr., xiv. 

 443. — Oreocallis R. Br., in Trans. Linn. Soc., 

 x. 48, 196.— Endl., Gen., n. 2153. — Meissn., 

 Prodr., 445. — Catas J., ex Rcem. & Sen., 

 Syst., iii. 431. 



1 All authors are not agreed as to the mor- 

 phological signification of this perianth. Those 

 who compare it with that of Loranthacece, Santa- 

 lacece, Olacacece, &c, consider it a corolla, con- 

 trary to those who side with Jussieit in taking it 

 as a calyx. Without denying the analogies of 

 Proteaceee with the ahove orders, we think that the 

 development of the perianth as observed by Payer 

 (Organog. Comp., 473, t. 97) indicates a corolla 

 rather than a calyx, for its leaves appear succes- 

 sively, not simultaneously as in Santalacece. We 



shall, however, avoid committing ourselves deci- 

 dedly on this point, and simply employ the terms 

 " perianth" and " leaves" ("folioles") in our 

 descriptions. 



2 The dissimilarity is chiefly below, owing to 

 the obliquity of the receptacle. As this is cut 

 obliquely downwards and outwards, the anterior 

 leaves are naturally a little the longer. 



5 They often remain united at the apex ; while 

 about half-way up two separate from one another, 

 part of the style escaping through the cleft. Its 

 stigmatiferous apex remains long afterwards still 

 caught between the stamens and the parts of the 

 perianth on a level with the anthers. However, 

 even these parts finally separate, and the leaves 

 commence folding or bending back. This occurs 

 in a large number of the members of this order. 



