MALPIOHIACE^. 



433 



the Lophanthera^ formed of trees from Brazil and Guiana, the cells of 

 the anther bear on the exterior edge a wing-like expansion, nearly 

 as in the Pterandm, and the styline branches are pointed at the 

 apex. Verrucularia, a- Brazilian shi-ub, with coriaceous and glaucous 

 leaves, has the styles of Lophanthera, with anthers whose exterior 

 edges bear each towards the apex a small appendage formed of 

 turgescent cellules, whilst the five petals differ in the form and 

 dimensions of the limb, which permits the definition of the plant : a 

 Lophanthera with more or less irregular corolla. 



In the Malfighlas proper, the ovary is entire, divided internally 

 into two or three cells, and the sepals are provided with glands. 



Malpigliia iiitida. 





Fig. 437. Fruit (|). 



Fig. 436. Longitudinal section of flower (i). 



Fig. 43S. Lonsitiidi- 

 nal section of fruit. 



Malpighia (fig. 436-438) has six to ten, with five sepals ; and that 

 is because either each sepal bears a pair- of glands, or else these 

 organs are wanting on one or two of the edges of certain calycine 

 leaves. The stamens are also superposed, five to the sepals, and five 

 to the petals. The latter are shorter and a little more exterior than 

 the other five. The filaments are free and monadelphous at the 

 base, and the anthers are bilocular, introrse, and dehiscent by two 

 longitudinal clefts. The ovary cells are generally three in number, 

 surmounted by the same number of styline branches with obtuse 

 stigmatiferous apex. The fruit (fig. 437, 438) is a drupe with three 

 monospermous kernels, whose back presents three or five vertical 

 ridges, often bound together by irregulaidy projecting folds. The 

 seed contains, under its coats, a straight embryo with fleshy plano- 

 convex cotyledons and short superior radicle. The Malpighia are 

 shrubs from the warm regions of the Nt'W World. Beside them are 



VOL. V. 



o K 



