IIALYAGEM. 



105 



the veiy nearly related genus Ochroma ; while in the genera Cava- 

 nillesia, Hampea, and Scleronema ,the anthers bearing filaments are free, 

 pentadelphous or polyadelphous. All these plants are American. 



In Asia and tropical Oceania the series is on the contrary 

 represented by a subseries with exceptional characters having for a 

 type the genus Durio (fig. 173). The plants which constitute it have 

 simple, entire leaves ; but they are penninerved, thick and covered 

 like the inflorescence and most of the organs with scaly hairs, some- 

 times very abundant. The flowers are enveloped by a gamophyl- 

 lous involucre representing a valvate calyx irregularly torn at an- 

 thesis. In Durio it is also detached from the pedicel at its base. 

 The calyx is a valvate sac. Within are seen five petals and very 

 numerous stamens, monadelphous at the base, then divided into five 

 bundles. The anthers are adnate to the connective and anfractuous. 

 The fruit is woody, muricate, indehiscent, having seeds surrounded 

 by a fleshy pulp and an embryo with thick cotyledons often confer- 

 ruminate. Cuilenia, related to Durio, has a long cylindical calyx 

 and is destitute of corolla. Neesia has nearly the same perianth as 

 Durio ; but the stamens are free or 

 united at the base into four or 

 five bundles ; and the apex of each 

 filament is surmounted by one or 

 two globose anthers, dehiscing by 

 a sort of central pore and inserted 

 upon a slight dilatation of this apex. 

 Boschia (figs. 174, 175) has similar 

 anthers isolated or approaching 

 each other by twos, threes, or even 

 more at the apex of each filament. 

 A variable number of exterior sta- 

 mens are represented by petaloid 

 tongues similar to the real pieces of 

 the corolla which are exterior to them. Finally, Caelostegia is a plant 

 altogether abnormal inasmuch as its small flowers, really constructed 

 like those of Neesia or Boschia, have a concave receptacle in the form 

 of a reversed cone. The ovary is implanted at the bottom of the 

 cavity, but the perianth and androceum inserted upon its edges 

 become very distinctly perigynous. 



Bvschia excelsa. 



Fig. 174. 

 Flower (f ). 



Fig. 175. 

 Stamens (I). 



