OCHNACEÆ. 
365 
the receptacle elongates more or less into a column or gynophore, 
the five alternipetalous carpels being arranged in a verticil on the 
summit. Each carpel is composed of a unilocular ovary, surmounted 
by a style more or less gynobasic' uniting with 
the neighbouring styles,so as to form with them 
a conical tube,’ stigmatiferous at apex, simple 
or scarcely denticulate. Jn the internal angle, 
towards the base, is inserted an ascending ana- 
tropous ovule, with micropyle looking down- 
wards and outwards. After fertilization the 
ovaries become independent drupes, grouped 
towards the summit of the thickened, often 
fleshy, coloured,‘ receptacle, accompanied at the 
base by the persistent calyx. In each not 
very thick stone’ is seen an ascending seed, the 
coats covering a fleshy exalbuminous embryo, 
with plano-convex cotyledons’ and short in- 
ferior radicle.’ There are some hundred spe- 
cies’ of Ouratea; they inhabit all tropical 
regions, but are especially numerous in Ame- 
rica. They are glabrous trees or shrubs, with 
alternate persistent simple leaves, often coriaceous, generally finely 
cut on the edges like the teeth of a saw, with numerous secondary 
parallel nerves. They are accompanied by two free or connate 
axillary stipules. The flowers are united in terminal or axillary 
racemes generally ramified, more rarely simple or umbelliferous, 
Ouratea decora, 

Fre. 379. 
Gynæceum and 
a5 = 10 
stamen (1°). 

1 In reality each style is detached from the 
internal angle of the ovary more or less’ near the 
base, creeping from without inwardly, and from 
below upwards upon the receptacle, against 
which it is closely applied and proceeding to 
join the other styles, with which it unites by 
the edges to form a common tube from the 
summit of the receptacle. The same arrange- 
ment is pretty clearly seen in several Ochnas. 
»This tube is often traversed by spiral 
flutings corresponding to the edges, by which 
the five styles unite. 
3 With double coat. 
4 Generally dark purple; the pericarps be- 
come nearly black at maturity. 
5 It is often of the consistence of parchment, 
The mesocarp is sometimes quite membranous, 
5 In some species they are pink, lighter or 
darker upon the edges. 
7 Sometimes longer than the cotyledons, 
conical at the summit; sometimes, on the con- 
trary, truncate, and shorter than the cotyledons. 
5H. B., Pl. Atquin, ii. 21, t. 74.—H. B. K., 
Nov. Gen. et Spec., vi. 13 (Gomphia).—A. 8. H., 
Pl. Rem. du Brés., 90, t.9; Pl. Us., t. 38; Fl. 
Bras, Mer., i. 60, t. 12, 13 (@omphia),—Pout.., 
PI. Bras., t. 178-185 (Gomphia).—Vezroz., 
Fl. Flum., v. t. 89-94 (Ochnd).—Hook., Icon., 
t. 712 (Gomphia)—Pat. BEAUV., Fl. Ow. et 
Ben., t. 71, 72 (Gomphia).—Onv., Fl. Trop. 
Afr., i, 319 (Gomphia).—H. BN., in Adan- 
sonia, ix. 75 (Gomphia).—Tr. & Pu., in Ann. 
Soc. Nat, sér, 4, xviii, 273 (Gomphia).— Bot. 
Mag., t. 5262.—Wazr., Rep. i. 526; v. 399; 
Ann, i. 181; ii. 260; iv, 421; vii. 543 
(Gomphia). 
