111! 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



case with 8tachystemon^ whose audroceiuu is formed of a great uumber 

 of anthers, sessile on a lengthened column, representing in fact a sort 

 of spike. 



Securinega., also without petals, has pentamerous flowers, an imbri- 

 cated calyx, with an equal number of suj)erposed stamens, inserted 



round a central body, so that it might 

 _- ^-.^ ^^ be described as consisting oi apetaious 



|df ' A II ^' species of Wielandia. The seeds are 



albuminous, and the leaves flat and 

 enlarged. They are trees and shrubs 

 from the warm and temperate regions 

 of both worlds, even of Europe. The 

 fruit, with two or three cells, is cap- 

 sular and dehiscent, or indehiscent 

 and sometimes even completely fleshy. 

 intidesma (fig. 242-243), originally 

 brming a distinct family, is very 

 closely allied to Securincga. The fi-uit, more often indehiscent than 

 dehiscent, has from one to three cells ; but it is easily distinguished by 

 a character otherwise of little importance in itself : it has the anther 

 cells in a wallet, at first pendant, then erect after anthesis. Jntidcsma 



has been observed in all warm 



Fi 



, 240. Female 

 flower (f). 



Fig. 241. Female flower, 

 longitudinal section. 



AiUidesma Bimiics. 



regions of the globe. 



Beside this 

 and Seciirinega are also placed : 

 Jporosa, which, under the name 

 of Scepa, was also considered to 

 constitute a separate order, having 

 the male flowers arranged in cat- 

 kins, with anthers whose cells are 

 longitudinally adnate. The an- 

 droceum, inserted round a central 

 body, often small or even wanting, 

 is usually formed of two divi- 

 sions, like the gynseceum : the 

 fruit is capsular. It inhabits the tropical regions of Asia and 

 Oceania. Comch'a, formed of shrubs from Madagascar (which ought 

 perhaps to be inchuled in the preceding genus), has also catkins 

 with 3-5-androus flowers, and a uni-cari^ellary gynseceum ; the 

 fi-uit is fleshy. The Hicherias, American plants, with capsular fruit. 



Fin-. 242. Female 

 flower (f ) . 



Fig;. 243. Female flower, 

 longitudinal section. 



