column into a pouch or spur. 'J he three inner segments form the 

 petals (the lower one in the orchid flower is known as the labellum). 

 In the flower being examined the two side petals are nearly of equal 

 length with the upper sepal, the labellum is shorter than the other 

 segments, articulated at the end of the basal projection of the 

 column, concave at the base, with the margins gradually, expanding 

 into two lateral lobes, which usually embrace the column, the terminal 

 lobe is usually spreading or recurved ; the disk usually bears longitu- 

 dinal raised plaits. The column is the thick centre piece, and consists of 

 the consolidation of the stamens and styles ; it is of ten short, winged at 

 the sides. On the top is the anther, and if the lid be removed will be 

 seen the four masses of pollen in collateral pairs. Below the anther, 

 or its floor, as it has been termed, there is more or less of a projection. 

 This is what is termed the rostellum, and immediately below this, on 

 the inner face of the column, will be seen the stigma. 



As the flowers of the genus Huphorhia present some difficulty 

 to the botanic student, a- description of the inflorescence of one 

 species, with occasional reference to others, is here given. The 

 common garden shrub .Euphoriia ( Poinsettia) pulcherriTna will answer 

 the purpose, so let us take it. The flowers are borne in cymes. 

 The large vermilion-coloured leaves are termed bracts ; in this species 

 they resemble the stem-leaves in nearly all except colour ; these same 

 organs, however, in some other species are very distinct in appearance 

 from the stem-leaves ; for instance, in E. Bqjeri they resemble two 

 fleshy, scarlet petals. Involucres on short foot-stalks, articulate at 

 the base, green, ovato-orbicular, toothed, marked by five sutures on 

 the outside, with which alternate, on the inside, five falcate processes, 

 beginning with narrow extremities at the mouth of the involucre, 

 and, adhering to this with their backs, they become gradually broader 

 below, passing inwards, and attached to an elevation in the centre, 

 they divide the lower part of the involucre into five distinct cells, 

 and supporting on their edges erect fimbriae, they divide the upper 

 part also, but less completely; teeth of the involucre numerous, 

 coloured like the bractse, woolly on the inside, connivent ; gland- 

 appendage single, on the outside of the involucre towards the axis 

 ot the cyme, round, entire, peltate, folded in the middle so as to 

 appear two-lipped, nectariferous ; four yellow teeth placed round the 

 mouth of the involucre are abortive appendages. These appendages in 

 U. Mitchelliana and several other indigenous species are quite white, 

 and resemble petals. In Euphorbia fulgens they are bright red. 

 Male flowers about fourteen, in two rows in each loculament, and 

 rising from its base, erect, petiolate, naked (without perianth), 

 monandrous, mixed with ehaif (abortive male flowers) which are woolly 

 at the apex, and occasionally tinged red there. Petioles colourless, 

 as long as the involucre ; filaments red, anthers two-lobed, lobes 

 divaricated, so that those which are next each other in the two rows 

 overlap, opening at a deep furrow along their outside. Pollen 

 granules yellow, lenticular. Female flower solitary central, on a short 

 stout pedicel, naked (without perianth). Styles 3, exserted, hairy, 

 each deeply cleft, or the single style divided to the base into three 

 deeply cleft branches of a dark red colour. Ovary, hairy, three-lobed, 

 each lobe emarginate. Ovules solitary in each cell. — Bat. Mag. 



