61 



The peculiar structure of this fruit, and the complete lack of 

 local information suggesting a possible explanation of its oc- 

 currence at Wolvercote, led the writer to make inquiries into 

 the natural and artificial distribution of Martynia louisiana and 

 its allies; the following points may be of interest to American 

 readers. 



M. louisiana is a member of a small family of flowering 

 plants — the Martyniaceae — consisting of coarse, low-growing, 

 annual and perennial herbs, which occur naturally in tropical 

 and sub-tropical America, in dry, or coastal regions. 1 The special 

 interest of the family lies in the structure of the fruit, which is 



Fig. 2. A young fruit of M. louisiana to show the glandular, hairy external 

 covering, and the long, curved beak. (After Fig. 2328 in Bailey's "Standard 

 Cyclopedia," p. 2005.) 



admirably adapted to dispersal of the seed by animal agencies. 

 This is characteristically shown in M. louisiana, the species 

 here figured. The fruit, in its immature condition (Fig. 2), 

 is pod-like, and is terminated by a curved beak equalling or 

 exceeding the pod itself in length; it is this beak which has given 

 rise to the common American names of the plant — -"unicorn 

 plant," "elephant's trunk" and "proboscis flower." The pod at 

 first has a fleshy covering, with glandular hairs, as the fruit 

 ripens, however, this fleshy exterior rots away, leaving a woody 



1 Bailey, L. H. "The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture." New York, 

 1925. Vol. II, p. 2005. 



