408 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Rhecdia is scarcely distinct from tetrarnerous Garcinia ; it differs 

 only in this ; that the calyx, instead of being in two dimerous ver- 

 ticils, with alternate pieces, has only two free imbricate sepals, rarely 

 united to any considerable extent. It comprises trees of tropical 

 America, whose organs of vegetation are those of Garcinia. Two 

 from Madagascar and one from tropical western Africa are all the 

 species that have been described. Ochrocarpus is also a near neigh- 

 bour of Garcinia, and between it and Bheedia the only difference 

 observable is that the calyx, represented in the bud by a valvate and 

 close sac, afterwards divides from top to bottom into two equal 

 or unequal parts. It has been found in Madagascar, in tropical 

 western Africa, and in eastern India. All these plants have the 

 same embryo as Garcinia. 



IV. MAMMEA SERIES. 



Mammea amerisana. 



r'c' ' 



Mammea* (fig. 379), having the flowers of Ochrocarpus, would 

 be placed in the same series if it had not an embryo of quite a 



different organization ; 

 a character to which, in 

 this family, a great value 

 has been attached in 

 classification. Instead of 

 being macropod and un- 

 divided, this embryo is 

 in fact composed of a 

 very short inferior radi- 

 cle and of two very large 

 plano-convex cotyledons, 

 united to each by their 

 internal surface. The polygamous flowers, moreover, have a valvate 

 calyx, divided at the period of anthesis into two valves, of from four 

 to eight imbricate petals, numerous stamens, with erect elongate 



379. Long. sect, of flower (J). 



1 L Gen. r.. 6.36.— J. Gen. 257.— Lamk. III. t. — Spach, Suit, à Buffon, v. 321.— Endl. Gen. n. 



458.— Desux. Diet. iii. 692; Suppl. iii. 582 5442.— B. H. Gen. 176, n. 23 (part), 981.— H. 



(part).— DC. Prodr. i. 561.— Cambess. Mem. Bn. Payer Fam. Nat. 271.— Pl. et Tbi. Ann. Sc. 



Mus. xvi. 424.— Trap. Diet. So. Nat. AU. t. 157. Nat. se'r. 4, xv. 240 (part). 



