8AXIFBA0ACEJE. 



387 



fertile, and consist of a free filament, perigynous like the perianth- 

 leaves, and an introrse basifixed two-celled anther. Each cell is ellip- 

 tical with a well-marked outline, and opens along part of this outline 

 by a curved cleft, which separates the wall of the cell like a valve 

 from the connective. 1 The latter is prolonged into a fleshy obtuse 

 tip. The other stamens, usually described as glands, are reduced to 



Hamamelis vlrginica. 



Fig. 463. 

 Flower (f). 



Fio. 462. 

 Flowering branch. 



Fig. 464. 

 LoiTjr. section of flower. 



fleshy bodies of variable shape. The gynseceum, inserted in the 



bottom of the receptacle, is in great part superior. It consists of an 



ovary, with two antero-posterior cells, surmounted by two arcuate 



styles, stigmatiferous at the apex. In the ventral angle of each is a 



placenta, near the top of which are inserted one or two descending 



ovules ; in the latter case one has its development early arrested. 



The other is anatropous,- with its micropyle upwards and inwards 



and its raphe dorsal ; but, owing to a more or less complete torsion, 



the latter is turned to the right or left, and the former to the other 



side of a cell. In many flowers the gynseceum is small and sterile, 



or contains only the rudiments of ovules ; the receptacle is then 



much shallower. The fruit is a dry capsule, partly sunk in the now 



1 In H. virghuca the pollen grains are ovoid, with three grooves ; moistened they are spherical, with 

 three bands, (H. Mohl. in Ann. Sc. Nat.,$er. 2, iii. 325.) 2 It has two coats. 



c c 2 



