162 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



bottom. The calyx consists of five slightly unequal sepals, of quin- 

 cuncial pra^floration. The five alternating petals are usually of 

 cochlear-imbricate pignoration. The anterior, internal in the bud, 

 and differing in form slightly from the rest, remains erect on 



Moringa pferygosperma. 



Fig. 186. 

 Flower (f). 



Fig. 189. 

 Seed. 



Fig. 188. 

 Fruit (i). 



Fig. 187. 

 Long. sect, of flower. 



Fig. 190. 

 Long. sect, of seed. 



anthesis, while they become reflexed on the receptacle, like the sepals. 

 There are ten stamens, perigynous, five superposed to the petals and 

 five to the sepals ; the former are usually sterile, reduced to the 

 filaments, 1 sometimes very slender ; the five others have a dorsal fixed 

 one-celled introrse anther of longitudinal dehiscence : 2 moreover the 



1 The filaments are free at their origin, more water it becomes spherical, with three papillose 

 or less covered with hairs below. Later on they bands (H. Mohl, in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 2, iii. 

 stick together to a variable extent. 343). 



2 The pollen is ovoid, with three folds ; in 



