C AST ANE A CE M. 



2 il 



slender catkins (fig. 2 OS), on which they are alternate, nearly sessile, 

 or on a short pedicel, frequently bearing their small axillant bract 

 (fig. 209). Each represents a small bundle of stamens, the number 



Balanops Vieillardi. 



f^ 



Fig. 209. Male flower (}) 



Fig. 210. Female flower (?). 



Fig. 211. Long. sect, of female flower ({). 



Fig. 212. Gynoeeium. 



of which varies from two to a dozen, each having a very short erect 

 filament, and a bilocular introrse anther dehiscing by two longitu- 

 dinal clefts. In the female flower (fig. 210), sessile on the trunk 

 and branches, there are a great many unequal, imbricate, rigid 

 folioles, covered with hairs, which are the parts, either of a calyx, 

 or of an involucre, and, internally, a free gynaecium (fig. 212), the 

 hard conical ovary of which contracts abruptly at the base to a 

 portion with soft coat, and at the summit is produced into two 

 stylary branches, themselves soon bifurcated in two long linear 

 lobes, subulate, exserted, sinuous and covered internally with 

 VOL. vi. 16 



