284. NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
the three valves presenting within upon the midrib a prominent 
placenta. One among them bears a descendent seed, the superficial 
fleshy coat and the crustaceous testa covering a thick fleshy albumen. 
In the axis of this is formed a straight embryo with long superior 
radicle and foliaceous cotyledons. 
Lacistema consists of small trees or shrubs of tropical America, 
fifteen species being distinguished.’ The leaves are alternate, with a 
petiole articulated at the base and accompanied by two lateral 
caducous stipules, the limb being simple, penninerved, and some- 
times covered with pellucid punctures. The flowers are united in 
small amentiform spikes, being numerous in the axil of a given leaf, 
where they are themselves collected in spikes. They differ much in 
age, and also in their very various states of development. The 
slender axis of each bearing alternate bracts, imbricated at first, 
uniflorous, and accompanied by two lateral bractlets, similar to the 
sepals, but generally narrower. 

V. CALANTICA SERIES. 
Calantica’ (figs. 320, 321) has regular hermaphrodite flowers. 
The receptacle has the form of a spreading porringer, on the edges of 
which from five to eight valvate sepals are inserted, and a like number 
Calantica cerasifolia. 

Fia. 320, Fa. 321. 
Flower (4). Longitudinal section of flower. 
of perigynous, alternate, linear petals. In the intervals of the petals 
is found a large gland, concave within, spreading to a tolerable 
distance over the internal face of the sepals. The stamens are the 

1 Bere., in Act, Helv., vii. t. 10 (Piper) — 2 Tu, in Ann. Sc. Nat. sér. 4, viii. 74.— 
Ruper, Guian., t. 4 (Piper).— Miq, in Payer, Fam. Nat., 83.—B. H., Gen., 799, n. 
Linnea, xviii. 24,—A. DC., loc. cil., 591-594.— 12.—H. Bn., in Adansonia, x. 256. 
Watr., Ann., iv. 228 (Lozania). 
