BEBBEBIDACE^J. 



59 



Podophyllum peltatum. 



when there are four or five, it is due to the deduplication of only 

 one or two of these leaves. The stamens of the outer whorl, alter- 

 nating with the sepals, are also three in number ; while the inner 

 whorl behaves like that of the corolla, and is similarly composed of 

 a variable number of elements. Each anther consists of a free 

 hypogynous filament, surmounted by a basifixed two-celled anther, 

 which dehisces by two marginal clefts. The gynseceum is unicar- 

 pellary ; its ovary is surmounted by a short style whose apex ex- 

 pands into a stigmatiferous head, formed of 

 a blade repeatedly folded on itself. In the 

 single cell of the ovary is seen a longi- 

 tudinal parietal placenta, whereon are 

 inserted a large number of nearly vertical 

 rows of horizontal or ascending anatropous 

 ovules whose micropyles look outwards. 

 The fruit is an indehiscent many-seeded 

 berry. The seeds, more or less imbedded 

 in the pulpy tissue of the placenta, enclose in 

 their coats an embryo surrounded by copious 

 fleshy albumen. Podophyllum comprises two species of perennial 

 herbs, one from temperate India, 1 the other from North America. 2 

 The stem is a subterranean rhizome from which arise alternate 

 peltate digitiveined and digitilobate leaves. The flowers are 

 solitary on a sort of scape, which bears on its lower part one or 

 two leaves. 



The flowers of Jeffersonia 3 (figs. 72, 73) are formed like those of 

 Podophyllum, except that their anthers open by two valves, corre- 

 sponding to half-cells, 4 as in Berberis. Moreover, the fruit is dry 

 and capsular ; it is urn-shaped with a groove on the side of the pla- 



Fig. 71. 

 Diagram. 



1 P. Emodi Wall., Cat., n. 814. — Hook. p. 

 & Thoms., Fl. Ind., i. 232. — P. hexundrum 

 Eoyl., III., 64. — Dcne., in Jacquem. Voy., 

 Pot., ii. t. 9. — Walp., Ann., iv. 149. 



2 P. peltatum L., Spec, 722. — Michx., Fl. 

 Por.-Am., i. 309.— Ntttt., Gen., 265. — A. Ghat, 

 Gen. III., t. 35, 36.— Walp., Pep., i. 100 ; Ann., 

 ii. 22 ; vii. 75. — ? P. callicarpum Eafin., Fl. 

 Ludov., 14. 



3 Bart., in Act. Soc Amer., iii. 334, ic. — 

 DC, Prodr., i. 111.— Endl., Gen., n. 4807.— 



B. H., Gen., 44, n. 17. — H. Bn., in Adansonia, 

 ii. 276, 280, 285, 287, 291. — Plagiorhegma 

 Maxim., Prim. Fl. Amur., 34, t. 1. 



4 Here the anthers are extrorse, for the cells 

 are directed obliquely, as seen in transverse sec- 

 tion, and the connective has its broader free 

 surface on the inside. But it is always the outer 

 half-cell which rises on each side into a flap, 

 while the inner is less developed, and remains 

 adherent to the connective. 



