LAURACEZ. 439 
pair of lateral glands. The gynzceum, rudimentary in the male 
flower, is otherwise similar to that of Zawracee generally. The style 
is dilated into a terminal stigma, often divided into two or three 
lobes. The fruit is a berry, surrounded at the base by a cup with 
entire or six-toothed edges. As many as fifteen species’ of this genus 
have been described, trees or shrubs from Japan, tropical Asia, and 
North America. The leaves are alternate caducous, often not de- 
veloped till after the fowers. These are arranged as in the preceding 
genera in a sort of umbel surrounded by an involucre of five imbri- 
cated bracts. 
The true Laurels‘ (Fr., Zauriers) now comprise but two species. 
The better known is the Classic Laurel (Laurier d’ Apollon ; figs. 
261-263). It has dicecious or polygamous flowers, with a perianth 
Laurus nobilis. 
( 
Vig. 263. 
Long. section of fruit. 
Fie. 261. 
Male flower, diagram. 
Fie. 262. 
Fruit (2). 
of four petaloid caducous leaves.‘ In the male and hermaphrodite 
flowers are from eight to twelve stamens, all possessing a free fila- 
ment and an introrse two-celled anther, whose cells open by the rising 
of a valve. The innermost, from four to eight in number, have two 
lateral glands.’ In the female flowers there are usually only four 
1 This is exceptionally the case with the six 
innermost. 
2 Watt., Carol., i. 184 (Lawrus).—Sties. & 
Zuce., in Abh, Miinch. Acad., iv. p. iii. 205.— 
Bu., Mus. Iugd.-Bat., i. 324.—S1eB., Pl. Afcon., 
in Verh. Bat. Gen., xii. 23 (Sassafras). 
3 Laurus T., Inst., 597, t. 867 (nec Bura.). 
—Apans., Fam. des Pl., ii. 433 (part).—J., 
Gen., 80 (part.).—Gartn., Fruct., ii. 68, t. 92, 
—Lamkz., Dict., iii. 440, Suppl., iti.; Z72., t. 321. 
—Nexzs, in Wall. Pl. Asiat, Rar., ii. 61; Syst., 
502, 579. —- EnpL., Gen., u. 2061.— MEIssN., 
Prodr., 233, 258, 516. 
4 In cultivated plants, the number of parts to 
the whorl varies considerably (from two or three 
to seven or eight). 
5 We have often found the following arrange- 
ment of parts in the male flower: a perianth of 
