428 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



anthers superposed to the petals, containing no pollen in their 

 anthers, which are transformed into a large glandular mass. The 

 gynseceum, formed of a single carpel, 1 consists of a free ovary sur- 

 mounted by a nearly central style, 2 whose apex is dilated into a 

 stigmatiferous head. Within the single cell of the ovary is seen a 

 parietal placenta, superposed to a petal (fig. 242), and giving in- 

 sertion near the top to a single descending anatropous ovule, whose 

 micropyle looks upwards and towards the placenta. 3 The fruit is a 

 berry, 4 the base of which is surrounded by the persistent receptacle 

 and perianth ; the enclosed seed contains within its coats 5 a large 

 exalbuminous embryo, with fleshy concavo-convex cotyledons, and a 

 straight superior radicle. 6 The Ceylon Cinnamon-tree is an aromatic 

 tree, whose opposite petiolate exstipulate leaves have a thick entire 

 blade, penniveined, three-ribbed at the base. Its flowers form 

 ramified racemes 7 of biparous cymes at the ends of the branches. 

 Each flower is axillary to a bract, and its pedicel bears two opposite 

 lateral fertile bracts (fig. 240). 



In certain species of Cinnamomum the leaves are alternate. This 

 is the case with the Camphor-plant of Japan (fig. 214), which has 

 been considered the type of a distinct genus, under the name 

 Camphora* qfficinarum? In this the leaf-buds are protected by rigid 

 imbricated scales, and the perianth, separating circularly at its base 

 during the ripening of the fruit, leaves the base of the latter 



1 Meissner (Prodr.,2) holds that the gyn- coat, whitish in the fresh seed; a thin brittle 

 seceum of the Lauracece is primitively composed testa, and a tender brown membrane. Here, 

 of three carpellary leaves : — " Pistils 2, 3, inti- as in many other Lawacea, the teguments 

 mately connate into 1; ovary formed of 2,3, are often spotted or "chine" with dark 

 valvately connate . . . . ; placentas 2, 3, parietal purple. 



rib-like, except the fertile one." Observations 6 The radicle cannot be seen from the outside 



on its development have overthrown this of the embryo. The two cotyledons descend a 



theory. good way below the insertion on the tigellum, 



2 It is traversed by a longitudinal groove on each forming a half sheath, thus completely en- 

 the placentary side, continued in many Lauracece closing the radicle, and even prolonged below its 

 up to the dilated stigmatiferous end, which it tip. The whole of the embryo is sprinkled with 

 notches. This groove ends in a rather broad reservoirs of essential oil. 



pit near the top of the ovary, where the pla- < Their divisions are opposite, decussate, like 



centa ends a little above the insertion of the those of the stem and the leaver 



ovul e- 8 Nees, in Mall. PI. Asiat. Bar., ii. 61, 72; 



3 ^ has two coats. Syst., 87.— Endl., Gen., n. 2024. 



4 The walls are thin, not very fleshy, and dry * 9 C. Bauh., Pin., bOQ.—Laurus camphorifera 

 up early. Many other Lauraceat have these K.EMPF., Amain., 770.— L. Camphora L., Mat. 

 stoneless fruits, with a thin scarcely fleshy Med., 107.— Persea Camphora Spbeng., Syst., 

 pericarp, and often described as bacca sicca or ii. 268. — Cinnamomum Camphora Nees & 

 exsucca (dry or juiceless berries). Ebehm., Med. Ph. Bot., ii. 430 ; PI. Off., 



5 These are thin ; three layers can, however, t. 127.— Meissn., Prodr., n. 44. 

 be distinguished — viz., a soft cellular external 



