446 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



the female tetramerous. In the latter case the receptacle for the 

 female flower (figs. 266, 267) is gourd-shaped with a narrow neck, 

 and contains a one-celled ovary, within which is a descending anatro- 

 pous ovule whose micropyle looks upwards and towards the placenta. 1 

 The ovary bears a thick style, grooved down the placentary side 

 and ending in a broad stigmatiferous head notched on the same side. 

 The mouth of the receptacle gives insertion to a perianth of four 

 thick-edged valvate leaves outside, and as man}'' inside alternating 



Ilemandia sonora. 



Fig. 276. 

 Long:, section of female flower. 



Fig. 278. 

 Fruit. 



Fig. 277. 

 Female flower (perianth removed). 



with these, and narrower and thinner at the edges. Within the 

 perianth is seen a disk of four glands superposed to the outer perianth 

 leaves. In the male flower (figs. 271, 275) the receptacle is small and 

 convex; it bears the double perianth and then three stamens super- 

 posed to the outer leaves, and inserted in the centre of the flower. 

 Each has a free or nearly free filament and an introrse basifixed anther, 

 whose two slightly lateral cells dehisce by a valve which afterwards 

 spreads, remaining attached to the connective by its posterior edge. 2 

 The fruit (fig. 278) is a slightly fleshy drupe, 3 surrounded by the floral 

 receptacle, which is grooved longitudinally 4 and adheres to its outside, 5 



1 It has two coats, which long remain distinct 

 in H. Vieillardii. 



2 This anther is formed altogether on the 

 same type as in Illigera, and opens in the same 

 way. The pollen grains too are globes, propor- 

 tionally large in diameter, and covered with conical 

 papillae, which are here usually very acute. 



3 The sarcocarp is, however, very distinct 

 from the woody stone. 



4 Usually by eight grooves separated by pro- 

 jecting ribs. Both ribs and grooves are covered 

 below with a layer of glandular tissue, which was 

 more marked on the surface of the ovary. 



5 Except at the apex, where the top of the 

 pericarp is seen free from all adhesions, and 

 apiculated by some remains of the hardened 

 style. 



