, r ll I 1 



NATURAL IifSTOliY OF PLANTS. 



style. In the single cell of the ovary is a parietal and superior pla- 

 centa supporting a descending, anatropous ovule, reduced to a nucule. 1 

 The fruit is drupaceous "with a fleshy layer generally very thin, 

 nionospermous putarnen, and the seed filling the cavity of the latter 

 consists of an abundant oily albumen, in the upper portion of which 

 is lodged a very small embryo. 3 



Balanoplwra consists of fungiform fleshy and parasitical plants 3 of 



very peculiar habit. They have a simple, lobed or ramified tuberous 



rhizome, often sprinkled with star-lobed ijroinmences from which 



. , spring the aerial branches, 



Balanophora fungosa. r ° ' 



coloured yellow or red and 

 covered with scaly bracts, 

 alternate, or opposite and 

 connate, with parallel ner- 

 vures ; terminated by a 

 cylindro-conical, claviform 

 or globular floriferous recep- 

 tacle, clothed with flowers 4 

 of one (fig. 482) or both 

 sexes. In the latter case, 

 the males are below, and 

 the females above, much 

 more numerous-and smaller. 

 ^nai^r- The males are pedicellate, 

 often reflexed and accom- 

 panied with axillate bracts. The females are in small spikes often 

 terminating in an enlarged, globular or claviform body. 5 A dozen 6 



Fig. 484. Female flowers. 



sometimes little developed, with the exterior 

 coat smooth. 



1 Suspended by a unicellular funicle, it is 

 composed of a nucule formed of a small number 

 of cellulf s. (On the structure of the gynœcium 

 see Hofmeibt. Pringsh, Jalub. i. 110, t. IS; N\ 

 Bti/r. OS."), t. 14, J5; Ann. Sc. Nat. sér. 4, xi 

 49, t. 5, G, fig. 48-56.) 



• It is formed of a very small number of 

 cellules (often two or three). 



3 On the roots of very various trees (Acer, 

 Quercus, Hibiscus, Ficus (?), Eucalyptus, Vireytt, 

 Thibaudiu, Araliaceœ, etc.). 



4 Yellow or red. 



5 It has been considered as the summit of the 

 secondary axis, and the name of spadicel has 

 been given to it (Eichler). 



6 W. Sjne. v. 177 (Ci/nmiwrium). — Bi,. Enum. 

 PI. Jar. i. 87. — Schott et Endl. Melet. 12.— 

 Jungh. Nor. Jeta Acad. Nat. Cur. xviii. Suppl. 

 i. 203, t. 1, 2.— Royle,/«. PI. Mima/. 330, t 99. 

 — Thw. Enum. PL Zcyl. 293.— Ans. llook, Ic/m. 

 t. 205,206 (La ng>dorJia). — Ung. Ann. Wien. Mas. 

 ii. t. 2.— Becc. Aft. Soc. Ital. Sc. Nat. Mil. xi. 

 197 ; N. Giorn. But. Ital. i. 05, t. 2-4.— Benth. 

 Fl. A astral, vi. 232. 



