362 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



XV.? ADOXA SEKIES. 



Adoxa ^ (fig. 390-395), referred to diflferent families * and doubt- 

 fully belonging to this, but that it is dijfficult to separate it from 

 Viburnum, has hermaphrodite and heteromerous flowers. The 

 receptacle has the form of a hemispherical cup in which is imbedded 



Adoxa MoschatelUna, 



Pig. 391. Inflorescence, 



after the fall of the 



corollas. 



Fig. 392. Fruit (}). 



Fig. 390. Floriferous branch. 



Fig. 393. Long. sect. 

 of fruit. 



the lower part of the gynaBcium, whilst the margin supports the 

 perianth. The latter consists of a calyx with two or three unequal, 

 divisions, and a gamopetalous rotate corolla with four, five or six 

 imbricate lobes, often a little unequal. At the throat of the corolla 

 are inserted the stamens, equal in number and alternating with the 

 divisions, but presenting this peculiarity, that each has a connective 

 -very deeply divided into two subulate and erect branches, each 

 supporting a subpeltate anther-cell, dehiscing above by a longitudinal 

 cleft.* The ovary, semi-inferior, with four to six oppositipetalous 

 cells, is surmounted by a like number of stylary branches with obtuse 



1 L. Gen. n. 501.— J. Gen. 309.— LamK. III. t. 

 320.— G^BTN. Fruet. ii. 141, t. 112. —DC. 

 Prodr. iv. 251. — Endl. Gen. n. 4550. — PatEk, 

 Organog. 413, t. 86.— B. H. Gen. ii. 2, n. 1.— 

 H. Bn. Bull. Soe. Linn. Par. 167.— Hook. Fl. 

 Ind. iii. 1. — MoschatelUna T. Inst. 156, t. 68. — 



Moscatella Cobd. — Adans. Fam. des Plant, ii. 

 243. 



^ Particularly to the Araliacecs. 



^ Greenish or a yellowish white. 



•■ Suhextrorse. The dry seeds of the pollen 

 bear three longitudinal furrows. 



