118 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



a discoid rim more or less prominent externally, 1 and bears a calyx 

 and tetramerous corolla, perigynous like the indefinite stamens; 

 while the g}maeceura is inserted down in the bottom. The two 

 valvate sepals cohere completely, and come off together at the base 

 by a circular slit, like an extinguisher. The petals are sessile and 

 caducous, imbricate or twisted. The stamens, also inserted on the 



BschscJioltzia erocea. 



Fig. 139. 

 Gynseceum (±). 



Fig. 138. 

 Flower (f). 



Fig. 140. 

 Gynseceum opened. 



edge of the receptacle,- consist each of a free filament and a basifixed 

 introrse two-celled anther of longitudinal dehiscence. The ovary is 

 free and one-celled, with two multiovulate parietal placentas ; 3 the 

 terminal style ends in four, six, or eight branches, whereof two are 

 the continuations of the placentas, 4 all covered with stigmatiferous 

 papillae at the apex. The fruit is a narrow elongated dry capsule, 

 traversed by ten longitudinal ribs, and dehiscing down to the base 

 into two rigid recurved valves which bear the seeds on their edges. 

 The albumen is copious around a small embryo. Eschscholtzia con- 

 sists of four or five species 5 of glabrous glaucescent herbs from North 



1 The development of this prominence is late ; 

 it can only be compared to tlie usually more 

 internal disks, which are due to hypertrophy of 

 the receptacle. 



s Patek says (loc. cit., 219) they are "grouped 

 in alternating whorls of six ; in each whorl the 



stamens appear at two successive times 



Moreover .... the four first stamens of the 

 first whorl are in pairs superposed to the two 

 outer petals." 



3 When adult the ovules are arranged trans- 

 versely or obliquely., in several rows. 



4 As may be seen in figs. 139, 140, especially 

 in the latter, where the two carpellary leaves, 

 separated from the placentas, themselves end 

 each in two or three stigmatiferous processes 

 (Payee, Organog., 221). Hence we may say 

 that two of the divisions of the style are simple 

 and placentary (as in Cruciferce), while the 

 others, simple or lobed, represent the apex of the 

 carpellary leaves (as in Chelidofdwn). 



3 Sot. Mag., t. 2S87, 3495, 4812.— Bot. Beg., 

 t. 1168, 1677. — WAIP, Sep., i. 116; Ann., iv 

 175 j vii. 87. 



