270 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



as ScMnus. The membraneous calyx is valvate, and the stamens, 

 five in number, are alternate with the contorted petals, but the 

 insertion of these latter is quite peculiar ; it is made on the columnar 



receptacle, not only by the base, but also 

 G-iutaBenghaa. following a Vertical mfesial ridge which 



occupies the internal face to a rather large 

 extent (fig. 306, 307). There results 

 beneath each stamen a sort of adherent spur 

 analogous to that of the posterior sepal 

 of Pelargonium. The gynseceum has only 

 one fertile cell, surmounted by a style and 

 containing an ovule suspended above an 

 upright funicle. The fruit is drupaceous, monospermous. Half-a- 

 dozen species of Gluta have been described, trees with simple leaves 

 from tropical Asia and Madagascar. 



In Swintonia, a tree with simple leaves from Malacca, the recep- 

 tacle is elevated above the calyx in a column much less raised than 

 in Gluta, and the petals are inserted also in a small vertical expanse, 



Zoxostj/lis alata. 



Kg. 305. i)iagram. 



Fig. 308. Male flower (|). 



Kg, 309. Longitudinal section of male flower. 



but they are attached by the edges and not by their mesial lines. 

 The calyx is imbricate, like the petals which are persistent and grow 

 around the base of the fruit., Melanorrhcea, consisting of trees from 

 Malacca and Birmah, has also petals growing round the fruit; but this 

 is a pedicellate drupe, and not sessile, like those of Swintonia, and the 

 stamens are indefinite in number, sometimes considerable. Astronium 

 is also very analogous to Swinhnia ; the insertion of the parts of the 

 perianth is transverse. The calyx is pentamerous, imbricate, as is also 

 the corolla, and the fruit is also surrounded by a large collarette studded 



