MYRTACE.E. 



329 



pyxis nearly cylindrical and traversed in the direction of its axis by 

 a thick triangular columella surmounted by a woody operculum. 

 The latter separates circularly from the rest of the fruit to liberate 

 winged seeds, with contortuplicate embryo, formed of a large radicle 



Couroupita guianensis. 



Fig 317. Flower. 



Fig. 318. Flower seen from aljove. 



Fig. 320. Gyna-'cium. 



Fig. 319. Long. sect, of 

 flower. 



Fig. 321. Long. sect, of 

 gyntecium. 



and wide foliaceous cotyledons replicate upon themselves. All the 

 stamens, more developed on one side of the flower than on the other, 

 are fertile, and it is on this account chiefly that they have been 

 separated from Couratari. The latter have, at the summit of a large 

 unilateral ligule, sterile stamens, the anthers of which disappear 

 or are reduced to small dimensions. Couroupita (fig. 317-321), 

 from the same countries, has the same organs of vegetation as 

 < if -liivia and Cariniana', but the andrœcium is still more irregular. 



