460 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



filaments unequal free; anthers basifixed oblong, subintrorse 

 2-rimose. Germen half-inferior ; branches of bipartite style linear- 

 subulate, simple at stigmatose apex, deciduous ; placentas 2, parietal, 

 sometimes contiguous at middle (not at base or apex) ; ovules oo , 

 2-seriate on each placenta. Capsule subligneous, 2-valved ; valves 

 finally 2-fid. Seeds oo , compressed, imbricate ; testa crustaceous ; 

 embryo...? — Glabrous small trees; leaves alternate crowded at ends 

 of twigs, exstipulate-petiolate, oblong or elliptical, entire coriaceous, 

 glaucous beneath; fbwers capitate ; capitulum axillary pedunculate 

 nodding, surrounded by co coloured involucrant imbricate bracts ; 

 bracts gradually shorter externally (China, Sumatra). See p. 393. 



XVII. LIQUIDAMBARE.E. 



104. Liquidambar L. — Flowers 1 -sexual or polygamous. Male 

 flowers bare ; stamens oo , glomerate into a globose capitulum ; 

 filaments short, surrounded at base by shortly prominent ring ; 

 anthers basifixed, oblong or obcordate, marginally 2-rimose. Recep- 

 tacle of female flower concave ; ring (perianth?) short inserted in edge. 

 Stamens oo , sometimes few or ; filaments short ; anthers small 

 (sometimes fertile). Germen at base or to a great extent adnate to 

 receptacle ; cells 2 ; complete or incomplete ; placentas 2, oo -ovulate ; 

 branches of style 2, at apex stigmatose recurved and furrowed within. 

 Fruit compound globose indurated, bristling with indurated styles, 

 or smooth by their fall (Altingia), oo -capsular ; capsules free above, 

 septicidal, gaping at apex ; valves entire beaked, or 2-fid (Altingia). 

 Seeds oo , angulate-compressed, shortly winged ; testa crustaceous ; 

 albumen fleshy thin ; cotyledons of rather fleshy embryo oblong flat ; 

 radicle terete. — Trees (abounding in balsamic juice) ; leaves alternate 

 petiolate palmatilobate glandular-serrate, deciduous ; stipules lateral, 

 deciduous ; flowers capitate ; capitula involucrate by 4 bracts or 1 

 (Altingia) ; males usually ramose or spicate ; females solitary (Asia 

 Minor, East India, Malay, China, warm Tropical North America). 

 See p. 394. 



105. Bucklandia R. Br. — Flowers polygamous ; receptacle con- 

 cave subcampanulate. Calyx marginal, unequally annular or thickly 



