330 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



The stamens, all fertile, form at first a complete crown witMu the 

 perianth ; then the common support straightens itself, in the form of 

 a thick fleshy tongue, on one side of the flower, having the appear- 



Lecythu laneeolata. 



Kg. 322. Flower. 



Fig. 323 Long. sect, of flower. 



LecytJiU Ollaria. 



Lecythis Zaiueayo, 



ance of a sort of hood with its cavity over the summit of the 

 gyneecium, and bears, after a tolerably long smooth surface, nume-, 

 rous fertile stamens, similar to those at the base. The fruit of 



Gouroupita is globular or nearly so, coria- 

 ceous and crowned with a sort of operculi- 

 form cap, but which does not separate at 

 maturity, as in Gouratari. The seeds have 

 the same embryo as the last. In Lecythis 

 (fig. 322-326), 

 the pyxide fruit 

 is often large and 

 with very thick 

 and woody coats; 

 it opens by a lid 

 like that of Gou- 

 ratari, but it ap- 

 proaches in form 

 (fig. 324) that of Gouroupita. The flower also 

 resemblance to that of the latter ; but those of the stamens which 

 are inserted on the upper part of the great cueuUiform ligule, are 

 reduced to papilliform staminodes, instead of being fertile, like 

 those of Gouroupita. The seeds enclose a fleshy and undivided 

 embryo. 



Fig. 324. Dehiscing fruit (|). 



Fig. 325. Seed. 



Fig. 326. Long, 

 sect.' of seed. 



a strong 



