BIXACEJE. 



293 



less divided and subdivided into branchlets the extremity being stig- 

 matiferous. In the ovary are seen five more or less prominent 

 parietal placentas, bearing an indefinite number of anatropous 

 ovules. 1 The fruit is a berry, the pulp containing numerous seeds. 

 These are formed of thick coats, particularly the middle one, 2 which 

 cover a fleshy albumen, enveloping an axile embryo, with cylindrical 

 radicle and oblong foliaceous cotyledons, digitinerved at the base. 



Certain Papayads, distinguished under the name of Vasconcella 3 

 (figs. 337, 338), differ from the preceding, in that their corolla is 



Papaya ( Vasconcella) quercifolia. 



Fig. 337. 



Male inflorescence. 



Fig. 338. 



Patulous corolla of male flower. 



oftener valvate, and their ovary divided to a variable height, into 

 five more or less incomplete lobes, each presenting a placenta upon 

 its dorsal wall. 



The Papayads are trees or shrubs of tropical America, of which more 

 thantvventy species 4 are known. All their organs contain a milkyjuice. 5 



1 Disposed in two or a greater number of 

 series. They have two envelopes, and long 

 remain cylindrical elongated, phalliform. At 

 the adult age their funicle, which serves to direct 

 the pollen tubes towards the micropyle, often 

 thickens on the face of the latter. 



2 It is often of a suberose consistence, and con- 

 tains a milky latex ; it is enveloped by a mem- 

 brane often described as an adherent aril. 

 (Jacq. P., Eclog., 101).— J. G. Agaedh, Theor. 

 Syst. PL, 379. — B. H., loc. cit.). The testa is 

 coriaceous, or crustaceous, with exterior surface 

 smooth, rugose, or bristling with prickles. 



3 A. S. H., Deux Mem. sur les Pesedac, ii. 

 13, in Mem. Soc.Poy. d' Orleans, i. 12. — Enbl., 

 Gen., n. 5120.— Payee, Fam. Nat., 119.— 



Yasconcellea A. DC, Prodr., 414. — Vascon- 

 cellia B. H., loc. cit. 



4 Jacq., Sort. Schcenbr., iii. t. 309-311. — 

 Jacq. F., Eclog., t. 68, 69. — Aubl., Chiian., ii. 

 t, 346.— Velloz., Fl. Flum., x. t. 130-133. — 

 Hook. & Aen., Beech. Voy., Pot., 425, t. 98. — 

 Desf., mAnn. Mus., i. 273, 1. 18 ( Vasconcella). — 

 Pospp. & Endl., Nov. Gen. et Spec , ii. t. 182. — 

 Wight, III., t. 106, 107.— Desc, Fl. Med. 

 Ant., i. t. 47, 48.— C. Gat, Fl. Chil., ii. 413, t. 

 25.— A. Geay, Amer. Expl. Exp., Pot., i. 640. 

 — Eenst, in Seem. Journ. of Bot, (1866), 81. — 

 MlQ., Fl. Ind.-Pat., i. 697.— Pot. Peg., t. 459. 

 — Pot. Mag., t. 2898, 2899, 3633.— Wal*., 

 Pep., ii. 205 ; Ann., ii. 649 ; iv. 868. 



5 It is covered with prickles in the Jaca- 

 ratia, as well as the branches, petioles, &c. 



