DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISPIDUS. 985 



When a transverse section of the placenta in a mature follicle is examined micro- 

 scopically, it is seen to consist of a broad cellular centre in which are numerous islands 

 of vascular bundles, bounded on each side by several layers of elongated cells. On the 

 concave surface of the placenta, the cells constituting the surface layer are of larger 

 size than the other elongated cells next them, and they appear to be continuous 

 with the circumferentially elongated and indurated cells of the inner surface of the 

 endocarp, from which, however, they differ in being less elongated and nonindurated. 

 In a longitudinal section, the cells on both surfaces of the placenta are seen to be of con- 

 siderably greater length than in a transverse section, and the actual long axis of each cell 

 is, therefore, parallel with the long axis of the follicle. 



(6) The seeds which in the green condition of the follicles are attached to the convex 

 surface of the curved portion of the placenta are, in the mature, dry follicles, unattached, 

 and, therefore, merely in contact with the placenta and the interior of the endocarp, 

 from the latter of which, however, they are separated by the loose downy hairs referred 

 to above (described under c, p. 989). They are of a brownish-fawn colour, but in certain 

 lights they are nearly white, owing to the numerous shining hairs which closely cover 

 their surface, and give to the seeds a soft velvety feeling. When placed in water they float 

 on the surface, and, if left in the water, they remain floating for many days. They have 

 an intensely bitter taste, but no odour until they are bruised, when at first the odour is 

 not unpleasant, having some resemblance to oatmeal, but after a considerable time, 

 especially if the bruised seeds be exposed to the air, it becomes oily and somewhat 

 rancid. They are flattened and have two surfaces, but their shape varies considerably, 

 especially in immature seeds, owing to the distortions that occur during the change 

 from the moist to the dry state. Most frequently, in well-matured seeds, the shape 

 is oval acuminate, though occasionally it is elliptical. The dorsal surface is usually 

 convex or nearly flat, and has a depression near the apex, and frequently also several 

 slight longitudinal ridges, no doubt caused by puckering of the testa and shrinking of the 

 albumen during drying (Plate IV. fig. 6). The ventral or placental surface is always 

 irregular, the chief and most constant irregularity being caused by a ridge near its 

 middle line occupying two-thirds or three-fourths of the upper part of the seed (Plate IV. 

 fig. 7a). On this ridge, generally at the junction of the upper fourth with the lower 

 three-fourths of the seed, there is a minute whitish spot or projection (Plate IV. figs. 7a 

 and 86, x). The ridge is produced by the raphe of the seed, and the minute spot on it 

 represents the funiculus, broken off at its attachment to the seed. The base of the seed 

 is usually pointed, sometimes acutely, at other times bluntly ; but, occasionally, it is 

 quite rounded and even flattened. Towards its apex, the seed most frequently tapers 

 gradually to a fine extremity, which is continued as a slender shaft or stalk, whose 

 summit is crowned by a tuft of long silky hairs, this shaft and tuft or coma forming the 

 peculiar plumose appendage of the seed. The entire seed, with its plumose appendage, 

 has a striking and beautiful appearance, and in its general form it closely resembles an 

 arrow: the seed representing the head; the slender prolongation of the testa of the seed, 



