NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



with four alternipetalous cells, surmounted by a unique slender ex- 

 serted style, the stigmatiferous apex undivided and not dilated. In 

 the internal angle of each cell two descendent collateral ovules are 

 seen, incompletely anatropous, with superior and exterior micropyle. 

 The fruit (fig. 416, 417) is a vesicular, membranous, veined, loculici- 



Aito/iia capeiisis. 



Fig, 414. Hermaphrodite flower, (f). Fig. 416. Longitudinal section of flower. 



Fig. 416. Fruit. 



Fig. 417. Dehiscing fruit. 



dal capsule, with four wing-shaped lobes corresponding to as many 

 cells, each containing one or two seeds in the internal angle with albu- 

 men wanting or very thin. The embryo ' has oblong cotyledons and a 

 short superior and straight radicle. The only Aitonia known '^ is a 

 shrub with rigid branches, native of South Africa. The leaves are 

 alternate or fasciculate, slightly developed, simple, entire, linear- 

 oblong, nearly coriaceous, the petiole wanting or very short, exstipu- 

 late. The flowers (reddish) are axillary, pedunculate, solitary or 

 few in number. 



' Usually of a greenish colour. :Exot. t. 229.— Haut, et So.nd. Fl. Cap. i. 243. 



^ A. capensis L. fil. loc. cit. — Reichb. Icon. — Bot. Mag. i. 173. 



