164 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Panax (PseudopaNaz) valdwiensis. 



Fig. 204. Long. sect, of 

 flower (I). 



complete types, that is those with as many ovarian cells as petals, 

 it may be said to represent the woody Aralias "with valvate corolla 

 and the Scheffleras with articulate floral pedicels. Such is often the 

 case with those named Fseiidopanax and Cheirodendron. They have 



a short calyx, five or six valvate petals, 

 as many stamens and ovarian cells. 

 The size and form of their styles are 

 very variable, and that often in the same 

 species according as the gynaecium may 

 assume a greater or less development. 

 The stylary divisions are either very 

 small, obtuse, erect, indistinct, or long- 

 subulate, recurved, and between these 

 extremes there may be every possible 

 intermediate gradation. In one species 

 also, the number of ovarian cells may 

 descend to three or two. It is ordma- 

 rily so in Nothopmiax (fig. 206, 207), 

 which cannot be generally separated from Fohjscias, particularly from 

 those numerous in the Mascarene isles which have as many as ten 

 or fifteen carpels ; the number of petals and stamens may at the 



same time be augmented. In certain 

 Polijscias and in Eupteron there are 

 only five petals and the same number 

 of superposed ovarian cells. 



In P. Boivini, a species from Mada- 

 gascar, of which a genus Sciadopanax 

 has been formed, the ovary is bilocu- 

 lar and the styles are united in a 

 conical mass by two small stigmatife- 

 rous lobes. The seeds have four large 

 vertical furrows. In P. Maralia, from 

 the same country, the styles, five in 

 number, are reflexed like those of 

 most Polyscias, and the seed is fur- 

 rowed like that of Sciadopanax ; it has 

 been said to be ruminate, but this is certainly not constant. In 

 Madagascar there is a Panax in which one cell in the ovary and fruit 

 is aborted, and of which the genus Cuphocarpus has been made. 



Panax {Polyscias) pinnata. 



,K>. 



Fig. 205. Long. sect, of 

 flower (f). 



