BIXAGE2E. 



283 



small polygamous, or more usually hermaphrodite, spikes. In the 

 latter the receptacle has the form of a small cone, supporting first 

 a calyx, formed of from four to six narrow unequal sepals incurved 



Laeistema niyricoides. 



Fig. 317. 

 Young flower, anterior side. 



Fig. 316. 

 Bud in the axil of a bract (^). 



Fig. 318. 



Young flower, posterior side. 



Laeistema niyricoides. 



at the summit when young, persistent, sometimes very small or 

 even disappearing almost completely. Within the calyx a glandular 

 disk is found, having the form of a circular cupule, nearly regular 

 and regularly lobed upon the edges, or more fre- 

 quently very unequal and especially developed 

 upon the anterior side of the flower. More in- 

 ternally, the androceum is only represented by 

 a single free hypogynous stamen with the fila- 

 ment dilated above into a glandular bifurcate 

 connective, and each short branch of which 

 supports an isolated anther cell, dehiscing 

 towards the edges, or a little more within, by 

 a longitudinal cleft. 1 The free and superior 

 gynseceum is 1 -celled, and attenuated above into 

 a style the summit of which separates into three stigmatiferous 

 branches, slender, recurved, often very unequal. 2 The ovary cell 

 contains three parietal placentas, alternating with the divisions of the 

 style. Each gives insertion to two or one single ovule, descendent, 

 incompletely anatropous, with superior and interior 3 micropyle. The 

 fruit at first slightly fleshy, ends by becoming a loculicidal capsule, 



Fig. 319. 



Long. sect, of young flower 



(anteroposterior). 



Gen., n. 1907. — Payee, Fata. Nat., 156. — 

 Schnizl., in Mart. Fl. Bras., fuse. 38, 279. — 

 A. DC, Frodr., xvi. 591. — H. Bn., in Adan- 

 sonia, x. 256. — Synzyganthera Ruiz. & Pav., 

 Frodr. (1794), 137, t. 30. — Nematospermum L. 

 C. Rich., in Act. Soc. Hist. Nat. Par. (1792), 

 105. — Guillem., in Diet. Class. Hist. Nat., 

 ix. 499. — Lozania Mux., in Rem. Nov. Gran. 



(1810), 20.— DC, Frodr., iii. 30.— Endl., Gen., 

 n. 6074.— Pi., in Ann. Sc. Nat., se'r. 4, ii. 265. 

 —Didymandra W., Sp. PI., iv. 971. 



1 According to Schnizlein, the pollen grains 

 are oval, smooth, or with three folds. 



2 Two are anterior, and often much more de- 

 veloped than the posterior. 



3 With two coats. 



