28 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



merit united at the base, for a very short distance with the neighbour- 

 ing filaments, and a bilocular introrse anther with an almost lateral 

 dehiscence. The gynseceum is composed of five free carpels super- 

 posed to the sepals, each formed of a unilocular ovary containing an 

 almost basilar ascending ovule with an inferior and exterior micro- 

 pyle, and surmounted in the internal angle by a short style stigma- 

 tiferous above and within. 



The fruit is formed of five membranous achenes, the reniform seed 

 containing under its coats' an annular embryo surrounding a farina- 



Limeum africanum. 



Fig. 33. 

 Longitudinal section of flower. 



& Q ' 



Fig. 34. 

 Flower without perianth. 



Fig. 35. 

 Gynseceum (\2 ). 



Fig. 36. 

 Gynseceum, open. 



Floriferous branch. 



Fig. 37. 

 Fruit complete (f ). 



ceous albumen. The Giseckias are small herbs, often annuals, 

 with branches generally spreading bearing opposite leaves, or 



1 The testa is black, finely granulated or almost smooth. 



