LAUBACEJE. 



441 



four trimerous verticils. The three innermost are reduced to sterile 

 scales ; the nine others have flattened petaloid filaments 1 of variable 

 breadth, and basifixed anthers whose two cells each dehisce by a valve 



Cassytha jiliformis. 



Fig. 264. Fig. 265. Fig. 266. 



Flower (A). Long, section of flower. Diagram. 



Fig. 267. 

 Fruit (|). 



Fig. 268. 

 Long. sect, of fruit. 



which rises early. Three are superposed to the sepals ; of these the 

 outermost are the largest ; they have introrse anthers, like the next 

 set which are oppositipetalous and inserted in the lower part of the 

 petals themselves. The stamens of the third whorl are alternipeta- 

 lous ; they possess extrorse anthers, and have two lateral glands at the 

 base of the filament. The free gynaBceum resembles that of Lauras ; 

 the single anatropous descending ovule has its micropyle turned up- 

 wards and inwards to the placenta, and is inserted a little below the 

 top of the front of the ovary, towards the anterior petal. The fruit 

 is an achene, with a thin pericarp, and contains a seed whose thick 

 fleshy subglobular embryo is exalbuminous when adult. 2 After an- 

 thesis the receptacle continues growing in height and thickness, and 

 so covers nearly the whole of the fruit with a continuous fleshy layer 

 or indusium, surmounted by the remains of the perianth and androceum. 

 Cassytha consists of herbs from hot countries, whose slender cylin- 

 drical stems, like those of our Dodders {Cuscuta) fix on by suckers to 

 the adjacent plants whereon they are parasite. Accordingly they 

 have no leaves, or only rudiments thereof, represented by scales or 

 little bracts. The flowers form capitula, spikes, or more rarely 

 racemes. Each flower is axillary to a bract and accompanied by two 

 lateral bractlets. The upper or inner flowers of the inflorescence are 



1 The filament has two lateral dilatations of the innermost fertile stamens ; they project 

 forming lateral auricles. It is in the notch backwards towards the perianth. 

 below these that are lodged the lateral glands 2 The albumen long persists in abundance in 



the unripe seed. 



