RKKRERIDACE/K. 



Plate 34. 

 JEFFERSONIA, Bart. 



Sepala 4, caduca. Petala 8, plana. Stamina S. Capsula 

 coriacea, obovata, polysperma, snb apice rima horizontali 

 operculatim dehiscens. Semina pluriseriata, arillo laterali 

 laciniato. — Scapus uniflorus niidns. Folia radicalia, bipar- 

 tita, segmentis semicordatis. 



Jeffersonia, Barton, in Trans. Amor. Pliil. Soc. 3. p. 334. Michx. Fl. 

 1. p. 23C. DC. Syst. 2. p. 34. End!. Gen. 4807. Torr. & Gray, 

 FI.N. Am. 1. p. 53. 



Twin-leaf. 



Calyx of 4 (sometimes 3 or 5) linear-oblong petaloid 

 sepals, imbricated in aestivation in a single series, caducous. 

 Petals 8, imbricated in estivation in two series, hypo- 

 gynous, oblong, sessile, plane, spreading, early deciduous. 

 Stamens 8, hypogynous, one before each petal : anthers 

 oblong, shorter than the filiform filaments, scarcely if at all 

 extrorse ; nearly the whole face of each cell separating as an 

 uplifted valve. Ovary ovoid, slightly stipitate, one-celled, 

 marked by a horizontal line around the back above the mid- 

 dle, tapering at the summit into a short style : the stigma 

 terminal, somewhat dilated and two-lobed. Ovules indefi- 

 nite, borne in several rows on nearly the whole length of the 

 broad ventral suture, somewhat ascending, anatropous. 



Fruit a coriaceous obovate pod, transversely dehiscent 

 half-way round on the back, near the summit, by a revolute 

 persistent lid, forming a broad lunate chink. Seeds numer- 

 ous in several series on the broad placenta, somewhat as- 

 cending, arillate; the arillus unilateral at the base of the 

 raphe, fleshy, laciniate : testa coriaceous. Embryo minute 

 at the base of the fleshy albumen : cotyledons short: radi- 

 cle next the hilum. 



Herb low, with matted fibrous roots, sending up, in early 



