330 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



The stamens, all fertile, form at first a complete crown within the 

 perianth ; then the common support straightens itself, in the form of 

 a thick fleshy tongue, on one side of the flower, having the appear- 



Lecythis lanceolata. 



Fig. 322. Flower. 



Fig. 323 Long. sect, of flower. 



rous fertile stamens, similar to those at the base 



Lecythis Ollaria. 



Lecythis Zahmayo, 



ance of a sort of hood with its cavity over the summit of the 

 gynaecium, and bears, after a tolerably long smooth surface, nume- 



The fruit of 

 Couroupita is globular or nearly so, coria- 

 ceous and crowned with a sort of operculi- 

 form cap, but which does not separate at 

 maturity, as in Gouratari. The seeds have 

 the same embryo as the last. In LecytJiis 

 (fig. 322-326), 

 the pyxide fruit 

 is often large and 

 with very thick 

 and woody coats; 

 it opens by a lid 

 like that of Cou- 

 ratari, but it ap- 

 proaches in form 

 (fig. 324) that of Couroupita, The flower also bears a strong 

 resemblance to that of the latter ; but those of the stamens which 

 are inserted on the upper part of the great cuculliform ligule, are 

 reduced to papilliform staminodes, instead of being fertile, like 

 those of Couroupita. The seeds enclose a fleshy and undivided 

 embryo. 



Fig. 324. Dehiscing fruit (|). 



Fig. 325. Seed. Fig. 326. Long, 

 sect, of seed. 



