'iCtO 



NATURAL IIISTOEY OF PLANTS. 



formerly confounded) in having an ovary with two or three cells, sur- 

 mounted by an equal number of distant styles, swollen at the summit 

 into a stigmatiferous head. The ovary cells each enclose an ovule, 

 directed like that of Spondias; and the fruit is a drupe with thick stone 

 whose two or three cells each contain an exalbumiuous seed. The 

 two or three ^ known species of Sclerocarya inhabit the warm regions 

 of tropical and southern Africa, and have the flowers arranged in un- 

 ramified spikes, on the axis of which are arranged in gradation small 

 bi- or tri-florous glomerules. 



II. BURSERA SEEIES. 



The most complete known type of the Bitr>iera series (Fr. Gom- 



mart)^ is a plant of 

 authors B. obfusifo/ia^. 



the Mascarene Islands, named by several 

 Its flowers (flg. 2C5-2C8) are regular and 



Biirscra [Mtiiitjijin) ohtiisifnlia. 



Fig. 265. ] [crmajihroditG 

 flower [\). 



Fig. 266. Diagram. 



Fig. 268. Longitudinal Fig. 267. 



."eotion of flower. Flower, the 



perianth removed. 



polygamous. In those which ;ire hermaphrodite we find a gamo- 

 sepalous calyx, having generally five divisions whose prefloration is 

 valvate or slightly imbricate. The petals are the same in number, 

 valvate in the bud. The androceum is formed of two verticels of 



1 GuiiLEM., A. Rich, et Peer. Fl. Scneg. 

 Tait.i. 152, t. 41 [Spondias). — SoND. in Xi'nnfflrt, 

 xxiii. 26 {ScliTocarpa). — Harv. et Sond. F/. 

 Cap. i. 524— Oliv. Fl. trap. Aft: i. 449.— W alp. 

 Sep. V. 418 ; Aii». ii. 287 ; vii. 648. 



2 L. Geii. n. 440.— J. Gen. 372.— Lamk. Diet. 

 ii. 767 ; Suppl. ii. 812 ; III. t. 256.— jAca. Stirp. 

 Aiiur. 94. t. 65. — K. in Ann. 8e. Nat. eer. 1, ii. 



3oO.-DC. Frodr. ii. 77.— Tuep. in Diet. Se.Nat. 

 Atl. t. 264, 265.— Spaoh, Suit a Snfhit, ii. 239. 

 — Endl. Oeii. n. 5933.— 13. H. Geii. 324, n. 6.— 

 I5.4KER, Fl. Manrit. 43. — Maech. in Adiiimotiia, 

 viii. 28, 64 (incl. : Jjeimmara Ct^TiETN. Fl<ip/iri«m 

 jAra. Iciea AvBL. ilurir/iiia Co>'MEES. Frutimn 

 Bl'em.). 

 ■' Lamk. Fict. ii. 768, n. 3. 



