2fi0 NATURAL HlSTOUY OF PLANTS. 



formerly confounded) in having an ovary with two or three cells, sur- 

 mounted by an equal number of distant styles, swollen at the summit 

 into a stigmatiferous head. The ovary cells each enclose an ovule, 

 directed like that of Sjiondias; and the fruit is a drupe with thick stone 

 whose two or three cells each contain an exalbumiuous seed. The 

 two or three ^ known species of Sclerocarya inhabit the warm regions 

 of tropical and southern Africa, and have the flowers arranged in un- 

 ramified spikes, on the axis of which are arranged in gradation small 

 bi- or tri-florous ^lomerules. 



II. BURSEEA SEEIES. 



The most complete known type of the Bursera series (Fr. Gom- 

 mart)" is a plant of the Mascarene Islands, named by several 

 authors B. ohtusifolia'^. Its flowers (flg. 265-268) are regular and 



Bnrsiru [Marignia) rbtiisifaliri. 



. 265. Hermaphrodite 

 flower (\). 



Fig. '26G. Diagram 



Fig. 2(58. tongitudinal Fig. 267. 



fection of flower. Flower, the 



perianth removed. 



polygamous. In those which are hermaphrodite we find a gamo- 

 sepalous calyx, having generally five divisions whose jsrefloration is 

 valvate or slightly imbricate. The petals are the same in number, 

 valvate in the bud. The androceum is formed of two verticels of 



1 GuiLiEM., A. EiCH. et Peke. Fl. Seiicg. 

 Tent.i. 162, t. 41 {Spondias). — SoitD. in Liimœa, 

 xxiii. 26 {Sclercccirpa). — Harv. et Sond. Fl. 

 Cap. i. 524— Oliv. Fl. trop. Afr. i. 449.— Walp. 

 Hep. V. 418 ; Aim. ii. 287 ; vii. 648. 



2 L. G>'i. n. 440.— J. Gen. 372.— Lamk. JDiet. 

 ii. 767 ; Suppl. ii. 812 ; III. t. 256.— Jacq. Stiip. 

 Am,r. 94, t. 65.— K. in Ami. Sc. Nat. sér. 1, ii. 



350.- -DC. Prodr. ii. 77.— Tuep. in Diet. Sc. Nat. 

 Atl. t. 264, 265.— Spach, Suit à Biiffon, ii. 239. 

 — Endl. Oeii. n. 6933.— B. H. Gev. 324, n. 6.— 

 Bakee, Fl. Mauiit. 43. — March, in Adniisonia, 

 viii. 28, 64 (incl. : Dammara 6.?ertn. Elaphrium 

 Jacq. Idea Aubl. Marignia Covmeks. I'rotium 



BUEM.). 



^ Lamk. Diet. ii. 76S, n. 3. 



