140 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Sichapetttlum pedmiculatum. 



above, for a very variable distance, into two or three stigmatiferous 

 branches. In the internal angle of each cell are inserted two 

 collateral descendent ovules, with a superior and exterior micropyle, 



capped at the top by an obturator 

 sometimes little developed or want- 

 ing. The fruit is dry, imperfectly 

 dehiscent or iadehiscent, with one^ 

 two or three cells, usually mono- 

 spermous. The seeds contain under 

 their coats a large exalbuminous 

 embryo, with a short superior cylin- 

 . dro-conical radicle. 



In certain African species of Di- 

 chapetalum such as D. HeudeloUi 

 (fig. 224), the floral receptacle, in- 



Fig. 222. Young gy- Fig. 223. Longitudinal , -, p ^ • -in j 



n*oeumanddisk(ii!') section of flower. Stead 01 bemg COUVeX, IS hoUOWeO. 



into a shallow cup, on the edges of 

 which are inserted the perianth and the androceum, nearly on a 

 level with the middle of the height of the ovary, which occupies 

 the centre of the receptacular cup. In other species from the same 

 country, as D. hispidum (fig. 225), the depth of 

 this cup becomes so considerable that the entire 

 ovary is plunged in the cavity and it is on the 

 edge of the receptacle, much higher than the 

 summit of the ovary, that the perianth, an- 

 droceum, and glands of the disk are inserted. 

 This genus then, as actually constituted, in- 

 cludep at the same time plants with hypo- 

 gynous, perigynous, and epigynous insertions. 

 The species constituting it, some thirty in 

 number,^ inhabit all tropical regions of Ame- 

 rica, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They all have simple alternate 

 leaves, accompanied by two caducous stipules, and axillary flowers, 

 disposed in more or less ramified clusters of cymes. In most cases 

 the peduncle of the inflorescence is drawn up and connate for a vari- 

 able length with the petiole of the axile leaf. 



Dichcq-etahun Seiidelotii. 



Fig. 224. Longitudinal 

 section of flower (-i) . 



1 Hook Icon. t. 791, 592 {CIiailletia).—KL. i. 328.— Oliv. Fl. trap. Afr. 1, 339 {ChailUtia). 

 in Pet. Moss. Eeis. Sot. t. 19, 20. — TuL. in Ann. — Walp. Eep. ii. 829 ; Ann. i. 898 ; ii. 279 ; It. 

 So. S'at. ser.3, vii. 83.— MiQ. Fl.Ind.-Sat. Suppl. 441 (flhailletia). 



