468 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



on the ovary itself (figs. 501, 502) ; and in the individual carpels, 2 

 three in number, with multiovulate placentas. 3 The fruit is formed 

 of three many-seeded follicles. Houttuynia comprises one species, 4 a 

 herbaceous perennial from marshy localities in the south-east of 

 Temperate Asia. It has alternate cordate petiolate leaves, with a 

 dilated sheath like that of Saururus. The inflorescence is terminal, 

 with each flower axillary to a bract ; but while the upper bracts are 

 small, the lower ones are large and petal oid, forming a sort of 

 involucre at the base of the spike. 



The same involucre is found in Anemiopsis? a genus of similar 

 floral organization, with usually six stamens and three carpels. But 

 the flower is so inserted on the rachis of the spike that its ovary, far 

 more inferior than in Houttuynia, is partially sunk therein when 

 adult. Anemiopsis consists of Californian herbs, with the same 

 station, habit, and inflorescence as in the preceding genera. 6 



Gymnotheca cJiinensis 7 has the habit, foliage, and inflorescence of 

 Houttuynia. But its four carpels are united edge to edge into a 

 one-celled ovary, surmounted by a style with four branches stig- 

 matiferous internally and at the apex. With these alternate four 

 multiovulate parietal placentas. 8 Towards the top of the ovary 9 are 

 inserted the stamens, usually six in number, each with a short 

 filament and an elongated basifixed two -celled anther of marginal 

 dehiscence. Each flower has a bract at its base. 



1 Really they are inserted on a receptaeular Payee, Organog., 427, t. 90 ; Fam. Nat., 147. 



cupule, in which is lodged the hase of the ovary, C. DC, Froth:, 237. — Anemia Nutt., in Ann. 



here unilocular. Owing to the want of a perianth Nat. Hist., i. 136. 



this cupule is almost undistinguisbable when adult. 6 Only one species has been described, A. eali- 



2 Two are anterior; they are superposed to the fornica Hook. & Abn. ; but perhaps there is 

 stamens, which thus alternate with the placentas. another inhabiting the same country. 



3 The ovules are orthotropous, with two coats. 7 Dcne., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 3, ill. 100, t, 



4 H. cordata Thunb., Fl. Jap., 231, t, 26.— 5. — C. DC, Prodr., 237. 



W., Spec, ii. 290.— .Bo*. Mag., t. 2731.— S. s The ovulcg are ort h tropous, transverse or 



foetida Loud. — Polypara cochincJiinensis Lor/E., oblique. 



loo cit. 9 (),. perhaps, rather, of an obconical re- 



Hooe. & Abn., in Beech. Yog., Bot., 390, ceptac'.e enveloping the greater part of the 



t. 92.— Endl., Gen., n. 1825 1 (Suppl. i. 1374).— carpels. 



