374 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



three of the sepals.* The filaments are free, inserted at the base in 

 a large hypogynous disk relatively to which they are more or less 

 interior or exterior, and the anthers are bilocnlar, introrse, dehiscent 

 by two longitudinal clefts.^ The gynseceum, rudimentary in the- male 

 flower, is formed by a free bilocular ovary compressed perpendicu- 

 larly to the dividing partition of the two cells, surmounted by a 



Acer coccineunu 



Fig. 421. Male 

 inflorescence. 



Fig. 423. Female inflorescence. Fig. 424. Female flower. Fig. 422. Male flower. 



style immediately divided into two long branches stigmatiferous 

 withia and above. In the internal angle of each cell are 

 inserted two ascendent ovules, incompletely anatropal, whose micro- 

 pyle ^ is finally directed downwards and outwards, and the hilum 

 soon produces a large axillary expansion more or less sin-rouiiding 

 the seed. The fi'uit is a double samara with two cells,* whose wings 

 are formed by the development of the backs of the carpels ; these cells 

 separate finally from each other and contain one or two seeds, having 

 under their coats a conduplicate embryo, with thin and narrow coty- 

 ledons, irregularly plaited or convolute, and an elongated inferior 

 radicle. In certain Maples the flowers are apetalous ; in others 4-1 2- 

 merous. In others again, like Acer Negundo (fig. 426), of which 



' Payer, Inc. cit. 125. According to tWa 

 author the two stamena Buperposod to the same 

 sepal are not hoth of the same age. 



- According to H. Mohl. {Aivi.Sc. Nnt. sor. 2, 

 iii. 337), the pollen is " ovolde, trois plis ; dans 



I'eau, spherique avec trois larges handes [A. 

 pld'diwides campcitre, dasi/carpum, moiispessula- 

 umii, Pseudoptatanus),'' 



3 With double coat. 



* Sometimes with three or more cells. 



