RHIZOPHORACEM. 289 



formed of a coriaceous calyx of four thick and valvate persistent 

 sepals, one anterior, another posterior and two lateral (fig. 255), and 

 four alternate petals, longer, equally valvate, with a margin often cut 

 into fine induplicate lacinioe. The stamens, eight in number, are 

 superposed, four to the sepals and four, longer, to the petals.^ Each 

 is formed of a filament very short or nil and a basifixed elongate 

 anther with two cells dehiscing longitudinally in quite a peculiar 

 manner 2 (fig. 257). The gynoBcium is composed of an ovary partly 

 inferior and hollowed into two cells, one anterior, the other posterior ; 

 it is surmounted by a very short style, almost immediately divided 

 into two very small stigmatiferous lobes. In the internal angle is 

 seen a placenta supporting two collateral descending anatropous ovules 

 With micropyle directed upwards and outwards.^ The fruit, accom- 

 panied at its base by the persistent and generally reflexed calyx, is 

 coriaceous, indehiscent, monospermous. The seed is remarkable for 

 the comportment of its fleshy embryo, destitute of albumen, but often 

 surrounded by a soft matter which appears to play its part. The 

 cotyledons are conferruminous, and the superior radicle is considerably 

 elongated while the fruit still remains attached to the tree. It thus 

 takes the form of a long pointed club and perforates the summit of 

 the pericarp (fig. 253, 258-260) to descend vertically to the soil into 

 which the radicle sinks before the upper portion of the embryo is 

 disengaged. Rhizojpliora consists of trees met with in all the tropical 

 regions of the globe. Their long adventitious roots support them 

 firmly at the bottom of the water, above which rises the thick stem 

 with opposite branches and decussate petiolate, elliptic, entire. 



1 It not unfrequently happens that at adult tended the researches of Jacquin (5;^. ^mer. 142) 



age no stamen is seen in front of the sepals, but and of R. Brown, who, in his mem. on the 



that within each petal are two, one of which is Eafflesia (Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii, p. i. 214 ; Misc. 



smaller than the other and may remain sterile. Works [ed. Benn.], i. 369), has established that 



This arises, as we have shown {Bull. Soc. Linn. the membrane of the anther cells is detached at 



Par. 58), from the stamen primarily superposed a certain moment to set the pollen at liberty, 



to the sepal having, by a later displacement. The lines of dehiscence are but faintly marked 



located itself with the oppositipetalous stamen, on the sides of the anthers and may extend to 



which it has slightly displaced, within the petal only a portion of their height. Below the par- 



to which this latter corresponded. There are tition extend numerous large cavities, nearly 



sometimes, it is said, 12-androus flowers in this spherical, containing the grains of pollen which 



genus. are exposed when the superficial membrane is 



- Griffith, who made a study of these plants detached, which is sometimes eflfected in a 



{On the Fam. of Rhizophorem^ ex Trans, of Med. tolerably regular manner. These anthers have 



aud Phys. Soc. Calc; Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 2, x. often been described as '* multilocellate." 



I; Icon. iv. t. 640), has confirmed and ex- ' Their thick coat is double. 



VOL. VI. 19 



