CEYLON. 
twenty to forty stamens arranged to form an epipetalous 
ring, a hypogynons group, or part epipetalous and the 
remainder hypogynons. The stamens are nearly equal in 
length and occasionally the filaments are fused at the base. 
Jn B. Toposia there are from eighteen to thirty-four stamens 
Of unequal length usually forming a hypogynons central 
group. In D. Melanoxylon there may be from ten to twenty 
stamens usually paired and forming a hypogynons group 
terminating the receptacle. In one flower there were 
thirteen stamens arranged as five pairs, each having the 
inner stamen shorter than the outer one, one pair with 
individuals of equal length, and one long stamen separate 
from all others. 
In another flower of the same species there were fifteen 
stamens arranged in two whorls, the outer with eight and 
the inner with seven members. In the outer whorl four 
were arranged as two adjacent pairs and the remaining four 
as separate successive stamens; the inner whorl consisted of 
two united at the filament and the remaining seven separate. 
In all those cases where there is an outer and inner whorl 
the stamens of the inner whorl are always shorter than 
those of the outer, the difference in length being usually in 
the filament. 
In the male flowers of D. Ebenum similar variations may 
be noted in the number and position of the stamens. The 
number varies from about sixteen to thirty-five, but in the 
majority of flowers examined they are arranged as eight 
groups, each group having two, three, or four anthers 
supported on filaments of varying length. These eight 
groups are usually epipetalous and arranged opposite to 
and alternate with the corolla lobes. If we take one group 
of four stamens, we find it to be composed of a basal pedicel 
0-1 cm. long, and bearing at this level two lateral, fertile, 
sessile anthers; above this level a third anther disposed 
introrsely is given off, and on the continued filament above 
this level is the fourth anther, always the outermost and 
disposed introrsely. The total length of such a stamina 
