TEBEBINTHA GEM. 



269 



Tapirira (fig. 302, 303) is also closely allied to Sorindeia by tlie 

 diplostemonous flowers and unicarpellary gynseceum, with, the same 

 insertion of the descendant ovule; but they have an imbricated 



Twpirira {Odina) Wodier. 



Kg. 302 Male flower (a). 



Fig. 303. Longitudinal section of male flower. 



corolla like Schinus ; and, on the other side, if we only consider the 

 gynseceum of the male flowers, which, although sterile, is formed of 

 four or five carpels ia great part independent, they affect the closest 

 affinities with the Spondias, especially those of the sub-genus Pou- 

 pariia (fig. 258), only dififering from them by a unilocular ovary and 



Glvta Benghaa. 



Fig. 304. Hermaphrodite Fig. 307. Hermaphrodite flower, Fig. 306. Longitudinal section of 

 flower (f). the perianth removed. hermaphrodite flower. 



fruit. They are trees and shrubs, sometimes climbing, with impari- 

 pimiate leaves, having 4- or 5-merous flowers, which have been ob- 

 served in all tropical regions of the globe, except Australia.^ 



Gluta (fig. 804-807) has very nearly the same organisation 



' We can only douhtfully place near Tapi- 

 rira, Stematostaphis Surteri, a small tree from 

 western tropical Africa, with compound impari- 

 pinnate leaves, whose male flowers are trime- 



rous, with imhricate diplostemonous perianth, 

 and the fruit a drupe with hard stone, containing 

 a descendent exalbuminous seed. The female 

 flower is unknown. 



