12 LETTER XXVI. 



The leaves are themselves bordered by spiny teeth 

 which are the points of their veins, and there is 

 a little joint near their base (fig. 1. h.), by which 

 they are articulated with their stalk. 



From the midst of a cluster of leaves appear the 

 vellow flowers, in a drooping raceme something like 

 that of a currant. Each flower consists of three little 

 external scales tipped with red ; they are the outer- 

 most sepals ; then of three petal-like parts (fig. 2. a.), 

 the inner sepals ; and within these of six genuine 

 petals. The great similarity between the parts thus 

 differently designated shews you that the distinction 

 between a calyx and corolla is in many cases very 

 arbitrary, although in other instances it may be plain 

 enough. At the base of each of the true petals are 

 two parallel yellow oblong glands (fig. 2. b.)^ the 

 nature and use of which is unknown. Between these 

 glands and opposite to the petals are the stamens, six 

 in number, consisting of a filament somewhat thick- 

 ened at its upper end (fig. 4. & 5.), and an anther 

 whose lobes, growing to each side of the end of the 

 filament, have a singular mode of opening. At first 

 the lobes resemble those of any common anther, but 

 when the time comes for the fertilization of the stigma, 

 instead of splitting along the middle, the anther opens 

 at the edge all round, except near the point, and libe- 

 rates its valve or face, which curves back and allows 

 the pollen to drop out (fig. 4. a.). This is a very 

 curious phaenomenon, and is technically called bursting 

 by recurved valves. 



The ovary is an oblong body (fig. 3.), terminated 



