MALVACBJE. 



73 



Chiranthodendron platanoides. 



filaments become free, and terminate by a basifixed connective 

 pointed and fornicate at the apex ; this surmounts the two cells of the 

 anther which are appressed in their whole length on the external 

 surface of a connective concave outwardly, 1 each opening by an 

 extrorse longitudinal cleft. The staminal formation placed symme- 

 trically round the gynseceum when young, subsequently grows out 

 in such a way that the summit of the column formed by the filaments 

 becomes oblique and the five anthers turn quite on one side, where 

 they look like five fingers of a hand. 2 The ovary is superior ; it is 

 surmounted by a single style with a stigmatiferous apex tapering 

 into a point, fornicate on the same side as the anthers, and projecting 

 beyond the upper opening of the staminal tube. 3 In the ovary are 

 five cells superposed to the divisions of the 

 calyx with a multiovulate placenta in the 

 internal angle of each. The ovules are 

 arranged in two vertical series and are in- 

 completely campylotropous. 4 The fruit is a 

 loculicidal capsule with five valves, it 

 encloses numerous seeds whose thick and 

 crustaceous coats cover an axial embryo sur- 

 rounded by a fleshy or almost corneous 

 albumen. On the smooth glabrous exterior 

 surface is developed a thick fleshy arillate 

 projection, which grows from the coat between the base of the hilum 

 and the region of the chalaza. 



This genus for a long time only included a single species, C. 

 platanoides? a beautiful Mexican tree, with alternate cordate, 5-7- 

 lobed leaves covered like almost all the other parts of the plant with 

 a stellate down, and having almost oppositifolious flowers whose 

 peduncles bear at variable heights two or three alternate bracts. 

 But for some years a second species of the genus, C. californicum, has 



Fig. 104. 

 Diagram. 



1 The transverse section of the connective re- 

 presents a V, with the horizontal section of an 

 anther cell at the summit of each of its 

 branches ; the anthers have been supposed to be 

 one-celled. 



3 Whence the vulgar name of Arbol de 

 manitas. ' 



3 The convexity of the curve formed by the 



style, and by the staminal filaments formed into 

 a tube looks towards the posterior side of the 

 flower when it is mature and full blown. 



4 They have two coats. 



5 Cheirostemon platanoides H. B., loc. cit. — 

 Hook., in Bot. Mag., t. 5135. — Belg. Sortie, 

 x. t. 8. — Walp., Rep., iv. 319; Ann., vii. 418. 

 — Macpalxochitl Hernand., Mex., 382. 



