2 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



bears, from below upwards, a calyx of five sepals, and a corolla of five 

 alternate petals, imbricated in prsefloration.^ The androceum is 



BiebersUinia Emodi. 



Fig. 3. Flower (f). 



Fig. 2. Bud (a). Fig. 5. Longitudinal section of flower. 



Fig. 6. Ripe carpel (f). 



Fig. 4. Diagram. 



Fig. 



7. Longitudinal section 

 of ripe carpel. 



formed of ten stamens, superposed, five to the sepals, and five to tbe 

 petals ; tbe latter are longer than tlie former. They have their 

 filaments inserted below th.e ovary, united among themselves below, 

 then free and each surmounted by a bilocular, introrse, versatile 

 anther, dehiscing by two longitudinal clefts. Without the androceum 

 and between the petals are found five glands of variable form. The 

 receptacle tapers to a thin columella supporting five oppositipetalous 

 independent carpels. They are each composed of a unilocular ovary, 

 whose internal angle bears a placenta, on which is inserted a single 

 incompletely anatropous descending ovule with superior, exterior 

 micropyle.^ About halfway up the internal edge of this ovary is 

 inserted a free style, which soon joins with the other four styles in 

 forming a slender fluted column, with slightly swollen stigmatiferous 



1 The petals are sometimes contorted (fig. 4). 



^ With double coat. 



