128 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Bupleurum rotundifolium. 



Fig. 132. Portion of 

 inflorescence. 



Bupleurum plantaginifoUum, 



the two Americas. Hohenackeria, ordinarily placed near Bupleurum, 

 consists of low annual. herbs from the Mediterranean and Caucasian 



regions, with simple linear and entire 

 leaves, and capituliform inflorescences 

 situated at the base of the stem. The 

 fruit is in the form of a pitcher, sur- 

 mounted by a receptacular neck which 

 supports a calyx with simple or double 

 spinescent sepals. The fruit as a whole 

 is compressed perpendicular to the parti- 

 tion and is surrounded by hard flattened 

 primary ridges. 



The Corianders (fig. 134-139), often referred to another series 

 because their fruit has primary and secondary ridges however little 

 developed, appear to approach more nearly the preceding types from • 



their fruit being compressed perpen- 

 dicular to the interlocular partition. 

 They constitute a small sub-series 

 (Goriandrem) , with fruit as wide as or 

 wider than long. In the true Gorian- 

 drum, as G. sativuvi (fig. 134-138), 

 the sepals and petals are very unequal, 

 being more developed as they are 

 anterior. The fruit is nearly globular, 

 with mericarps very concave within 

 as also the enclosed seed; the ex- 

 terior surface is nearly smooth. In 

 G. testiculatmn (fig. 139), type of a 

 genus Bifora, the mericarps are sepa- 

 rated from each other by a very 

 marked constriction and form by their 

 union a sort of double sphere. The 

 face has an opening which connects 

 the carpophore with the seeds. It is the same in Atrema, from 

 North America, which is a Bifora with a less developed calyx, and in 

 Astoma, a Levant plant, which has the fruit of Bifora, with sub- 

 globular- mericarps, but more fleshy than that of the preceding types, 

 and with an indefinite number of vittse. Schrenckia forms a, section 

 of the Corianders, having the fruit of Bifora, with primary ridges a 



Fig. 133. Trans, sect, of fruit (',»). 



