MALVACEÆ. 73 
filaments become free, and terminate by a basifixed connective 
pointed and fornicate at the apex ; this surmounts the two cells of the 
anther which are appressed in their whole length on the external 
surface of a connective concave outwardly,’ each opening by an 
extrorse longitudinal cleft. The staminal formation placed symme- 
trically round the gynæceum when young, subsequently grows out 
in such a way that the summit of the column formed by the filaments 
becomes oblique and the five anthers turn quite on one side, where 
they look like five fingers of a hand. The ovary is superior ; it is 
surmounted by a single style with a stigmatiferous apex tapering 
into a point, fornicate on the same side as the anthers, and projecting 
beyond the upper opening of the staminal tube In the ovary are 
five cells superposed to the divisions of the 
calyx with a multiovulate placenta in the 
internal angle of each. The ovules are 
arranged in two vertical series and are in- 
completely campylotropous.* The fruit is a 
loculicidal capsule with five valves, it 
encloses numerous seeds whose thick and 
crustaceous coats cover an axial embryo sur- 
rounded by a fleshy or almost corneous 
albumen. On the smooth glabrous exterior 
surface is developed a thick fleshy arillate 
projection, which grows from the coat between the base of the hilum 
and the region of the chalaza. 
This genus for a long time only included a single species, C. 
platanoides, a beautiful Mexican tree, with alternate cordate, 5—7- 
lobed leaves covered like almost all the other parts of the plant with 
a stellate down, and having almost oppositifolious flowers whose 
peduncles bear at variable heights two or three alternate bracts. 
But for some years a second species of the genus, C. californicum, has 
Chiranthodendron platanoides. 

Fra.£104, 
Diagram, 

1 The transverse section of the connective re- 
presents a V, with the horizontal section of an 
anther cell at the summit of each of its 
branches ; the anthers have been supposed to be 
one-celled. 
2 Whence the vulgar name of Arbol de 
manilas. 
3 The convexity of the curve formed by the 
style, and by the staminal filameuts formed into 
a tube looks towards the posterior side of the 
flower when it is mature and full blown. 
4 They have two coats. 
5 Cheirostemon platanoides H. B., loc. cit — 
Hoox., in Bot. Mag., t. 5135.—Belg. Hortic., 
x. t. 8—Watp., Rep., iv. 319; Ann., vii. 418. 
—Macpalxochitl HERNAND., Mex., 382. 
