TxTJTACEM. 



411 



internal angle of each cell is inserted a descending anatropous 

 ovule, with superior and exterior micropyle. The fruit is a drupe, 

 with smooth, fragile epicarp, and fleshy, oily mesocarp traversed by 

 bundles of vascular fibres, with pentagonal hard, bony, 1 monosper- 

 mous stone. The descending seed contains under its coats a thick 

 exalbuininous embryo, with plano-convex cotyledons, sometimes 

 unequal, bilobed or corrugate, and a short superior radicle. The 

 two Balanites known 2 are shrubs 3 from the warm regions of Africa 

 and South Western Asia. Their branches bear abortive twigs 

 transformed into spines (fig. 4G0), and alternate leaves, with two 

 folioles, entire, coriaceous, not punctuate, articulate, accompanied 

 by two small lateral stipules. The flowers 4 are united in cymes 

 occupying the axil of the leaves, or that of bracts arranged in gra- 

 dation on a common axis ; the pedicels are articulate at the base. 



IX. QUASSIA SEEIES. 



The genus Quassia 5 has long been reduced to one celebrated 

 species Q. amara (figs. 464-467). It is a small tree, with herma- 

 phrodite flowers, whose convex receptacle has the shape of a reversed 

 cone. On a level with its small base (which is inferior) five sepals 

 are inserted quincuncially imbricated in the bud, and five petals, 

 alternate with them, much longer, contorted in prsefloration, gene- 

 rally together as in a tube even at anthesis (fig. 465), more rarely 

 expanded or remote. Ten stamens, disposed in two verticils, are 

 inserted on the same level as the perianth, superposed, five to the 

 sepals, and five shorter to the petals. Each is formed of a slender 

 filament, furnished within the base with a velvety scale, and a two- 



1 Upon the transverse section is seen a very 

 elegant plexus, contrasting by its paleness with 

 the deep fawn colour of the endocarp. 



2 L., Spec, 119-1 (Ximenia). — E. Br., Misc. 

 Works (ed. Benn.), i. 44, 287. — Gttillem. & 

 Pebe., Fl. Sen. Tent., i. 103. — Pl., in Ann. Sc. 

 Nat., ser. 4, ii. 258.— Our., Fl. Trop. Afr., i. 

 314.— Tbevie., in Bot. Zeit. (1857), 65. — 

 Walp., Hep., i. 379; Ann., i. 126; iv. 354; 

 vii. 542. 



3 With bark bitter like the sarcocarp. 



4 Small greenish or whitish pubescent, with 

 grateful odour. 



5 L., Gen., n. 521 (part.).— J., Gen., 282.— 

 Lamk., III., t. 343, tig. 1. — Poib., Diet., vi. 

 23 ; Suppl., iv. 636 (part.). — DC, in Ann. Mus., 

 xvii. 323; Frodr., i. 733. — A. Juss., in Mem. 

 Mus., xii. 513, t. 25, fig. 43. — Tttep., in Diet. 

 Sc. Nat., Atl., t. 125.— SPACn, Suit, d Buffon, 

 ii. 373.— Endl., Gen., n. 5962.— B. H., Gen., 

 308, 992, n> 1.— Ag., Theor. Syst., t. 19, 

 fig. 2. — H. By., in Adansonia, xi. fasc. 1 

 (inch : Aruba Aubl., Homalolepis Tuecz,, 

 Fhyllostema Neck., Simaba Aubl., Zwingera 

 Scueeb.). 



