Page:Miscellaneousbot01brow.djvu/96

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
78
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE

the pitcher itself, but more probably consists merely of rain-water received and preserved in it. The lid of the pitcher in the full grown state was found either accurately closing its mouth or having an erect position and therefore leaving it entirely open; and it is not unlikely that the position of the lid is determined by the state of the atmosphere, or even by other external causes.


ANTIARIS.

Ord. Nat, Urticeæ, inter Brosimum et Olmediam.
Syst. Linn. Monoecia Tetrandria.


Char. Gen. Masc. Involucrum multiflorum, basi orbiculata florifera, apice multifido. Calyx 4-ph. Stam. 4.


Fem. Involucrum uniflorum, urceolatum, apice multifidum. Calyx 0. Ovarium cum involucro cohærens, monospermum, ovulo pendulo. Stylus bipartitus. Drupa ex involucro aucto formata. Semen exalbuminosum. Embryonis radicula supera.


Antiaris macrophylla. Tab. 5.

A shrub or very small tree observed in barren stony places, on the shores of the Company's Islands, adjacent to Arnhem's Land, on the north coast of New Holland, in about 12° S. lat.; bearing both flowers and ripe fruit in February, 1803.

DESC. Frutex orgyalis ramosissimus glaber lactescens. Ramuli teretes. Folia alterna, petiolata, stipulata, oblonga cum brevi acumine, basi inæquali subcordata, glaberrima integerrima coriacea, supra nigro-viridia nitida subtus viridiora, venis fere rectangulis juxta marginem anastomozantibus, venulis 603] divaricatis, dum sex uncias longa ultra tres uncias lata. Petioli teretiusculi cinerascentes semunciales. Stipula intrafoliacea conduplicata lanceolata acuminata foliacea. Pedunculi axillares solitarii, brevissimi, androgyni, pedicellis 6-8 alternis, infimo femineo præcociore, reliquis masculis. Masc. Involucrum subcyathiforme apice multifido, laciniis imbricatis acutis ciliatis conniventibus, demum expansum orbiculare marginibus reflexis, diametro quinquelineari. Flosculi numerosi densê conferti sessiles. Calyx 4-ph. foliolis subspathulatis apice conniventibus. Corolla 0. Antheræ biloculares: Pollen album. Nullum rudimentum pistilli. Fem. Involucrum uniflorum ovatum parvum glabrum viride apice multifidum, laciniis numerosis lanceolatis ciliatis conniventibus, nonnullisque dorsalibus sparsis similibus. Calyx 0. Stamina 0. Ovarium, accretum et inclusum ventre involucri, monospermum, ovulo pendulo: Stylus