281 



XATURAL IUSTORY OF PLANTS. 



the three valves presenting within upon the midrib a prominent 

 placenta. One among them bears a descendent seed, the superficial 

 fleshy coat and the crustaceous testa covering a thick fleshy albumen. 

 In the axis of this is formed a straight embryo with long superior 

 radicle and foliaceous cotyledons. 



Lacistema consists of small trees or shrubs of tropical America, 

 fifteen species being distinguished. 1 The leaves are alternate, with a 

 petiole articulated at the base and accompanied by two lateral 

 caducous stipules, the limb being simple, penninerved, and some- 

 times covered with pellucid punctures. The flowers are united in 

 small amentiform spikes, being numerous in the axil of a given leaf, 

 where they are themselves collected in spikes. They differ much, in 

 age, and also in their very various states of development. The 

 slender axis of each bearing alternate bracts, imbricated at first, 

 uniflorous, and accompanied by two lateral bractlets, similar to the 

 sepals, but generally narrower. 



V. CALANTICA SEEIES. 



Calanlica* (figs. 320, 321) has regular hermaphrodite flowers. 

 The receptacle has the form of a spreading porringer, on the edges of 

 which from five to eight valvate sepals are inserted, and a like number 



Calantica cerasifolia. 



Fig. 320. 

 Flower (±). 



Fig. 321. 

 <_ Longitudinal section of flower. 



of perigynous, alternate, linear petals. In the intervals of the petals 

 is found a large gland, concave within, spreading to a tolerable 

 distance over the internal nice of the sepals. The stamens are the 



Beeg., in Act. Helv., vii. t. 10 (Piper).— 2 Tux., in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 4, viii. 74.— 



Rudge, Ghiian., t. 4 (Piper). — Mi<£, in Payee, Fam. Nat., 83.— B. H., Gen., 799 n. 



Linncea, xvm. 24.— A. DC, loc. cit., 591-594.— 12.- H. Bn., in Adansonia, x. 256. 

 Walp., Ann., iv. 228 (Lozania). 



