156 LETTER XL. 



of the anther, in the form, &c. of the calyx, and some 

 other minor circumstances. They are, however, so 

 seldom seen alive in Europe, in a flowering state, that 

 I need not occupy your time about them. Consider 

 them aromatic Mezereum-like plants, with anthers 

 bursting by recurved valves, and you cannot easily 

 forget them. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XU. 



I. The Mezereum Tribe. — 1. A twig of common Mezereum 

 (Daphne Mezereum). — 2. One of its calyxes cut open, and shewing the 

 stamens and ovary. — 3. An ovary cut perpendicularly, to shew the cavity a 

 in the pericarp, the ovule c, and its foramen b. — 4.* and 5.* stamens. — 

 4. A cluster of ripe fruit, natural size. — 5. A section of a fruit, shewing 

 the seed. — 6. The embryo. 



, IL The Cinnamon Tribe. — 1. The &re<?^ 5a?/ (Laurus nobilis). 

 — 2. A sterile flower, with its 8 glandular stamens. — 3. A stamen 

 separated ; a one of the valves of the anther, b another quite rolled 

 back, c abortive stamens, resembling glands. — 4. A fertile flower, with 

 the four abortive stamens surrounding the ovary. — 5. A section of the 

 ovary. — 6. A ripe fruit. — 7. A longitudinal section of the same, shewing 

 the radicle at the apex. — 8. A transverse section of the same, shewing 

 the two cotvledons cut across. 



