BUT 'AGE 'JE. 



397 



two-celled, introrse anther, dehiscing by two longitudinal clefts. 1 

 The carpels, supported by a foot formed by a prolongation of the 

 receptacle, more or less thickened at the base into a glandular 



Zanthoxylum fraxineum 



€ 



Fig. 433. 

 Female inflorescence. 



Fig. 434. 

 Female flower (^). 



Fig. 435. 



Long. sect, of female 

 flower (^). 



Fig. 436. 

 Dehiscent fruit (^). 



Za nthoxyhi m fraxineu m . 



disk, are free, superposed to the petals ; each of them comprises 

 a one-celled ovary, surmounted by a style dilated stigmatiferous 

 at the apex, free or uniting with that of the other styles. In 

 the internal angle of the ovary is a vertical placenta supporting 

 two descending ovules, collateral, or 

 nearly so, with the micropyle, directed 

 upwards and outwards. 2 In the female 

 flowers, the stamens are rudimentary, re- 

 duced to filaments or entirely disappear- 

 ing. In the male flowers, the receptacle 

 is much less elongated, and the carpels 

 rudimentary or nil ; the fruit is composed 

 of shells, drupaceous, or finally dry, 3 dehiscing vertically to a variable 

 distance in two lateral panels, 4 allowing a seed to escape, generally sup- 

 ported by a long funicle (fig. 436), and containing under its thick black- 

 ish shining coats' a fleshy albumen, enveloping a straight arched or for- 

 nicate embryo, with foliaceous cotyledons, and a short superior radicle. 



Fig. 437. 

 Seed (&). 



Fig. 438. 

 Long. sect, of seed. 



1 The pollen is formed of ellipsoidal grains 

 with three grooves. In water they become 

 oval or spherical with three hands with (Z. 

 instrument a riuni) or without (Z. triphyllum) 

 papillae upon the bands. (H. Mohl, in Ann. 

 Sc. Nat., ser. 2, iii. 339.) 



2 They have two coats. 



3 The outer service is sprinkled with glan- 

 dular odorous reservoirs. 



4 The thin endocarp often separates at the 

 moment of dehiscence from the more exterior 

 layer of the pericarp. 



5 In the seed of Z. fraxineum are dis- 

 tinguished : externally, a smooth membrane 

 shining, thin, and black; more internally, a 

 testaceous, thick, blackish coat ; then round the 

 albumen a third layer, soft, pale, and mem- 

 branous. 



