368 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



entire or lobate. The three lower are usually declinate. The 

 anthers are bilocular, introrse, dehiscent by two longitudinal clefts.^ 

 The gynteceum is composed of a trilocular ovary surmounted by a 

 simple style, with undilated stigmatiferous apex. In the internal 

 angle of each cell is a placenta supporting two ovules, horizontal, or 

 more often directed inversely. One of these, attached below, is 



Mscitliis Hippocastaiiuw. 



Fig. 407. Seed. 



Fig. 404. Portion of inflorescence. 



Fig. 408. Longitudinal 

 section of seed. 



ascendent with the micropylc inferior and exterior; the other 

 is descendent, with micropyle turned upwards and inwards.^ The 

 fruit is a thick coriaceous loculicidal capsule, spherical or nearly so, 

 the surface smooth or bristling with points. The cells, one to three in 

 number, contain one or two seeds whose exalbuminous embryo has 

 two large hemispherical fleshy cotyledons, often coufeiTuminate, and 

 an arched conical radicle, involved in a sort of sheath forming the 



' In the species observed (H.Mohl, Ami. 

 Sc. Nat. ser. 2, iii, 337) : the pollen is " ellip- 

 soide; trois plis; dans Teau, sphere k trois 



bandes avec trois papilles {.jEnculiis maorostachya, 

 JE.Jlava^ jE. Sippocastnnuni)*^ 

 ' The ovular coat is double. 



