Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 2.djvu/279

ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.

147

D. Diospyros cordifolia.

1. Cyme of male flowers.

2. Corolla split open, the stamens in situ, in this in- stance 9 pairs, 8 however is the usual number.

3. A pair of anthers detached.

4. Calyx and sterile ovary.

5. Portions of upper and under surface of the leaf, slightly magnified to show the pubescence.

6. Female flowers.

7. Corolla opened, sterile filaments in situ.

8. Detached sterile filaments.

9. Calyx and ovary.

10. Ovary cut vertically, ovules pendulous.

11. cut transversely, 4-celled with two collateral

ovules in each.

12. A fruit, immature.

13. cut transversely, not sufficiently mature to

admit of perfect dissection of the seed.

14. A small portion of a branch magnified, to show the pubescence.

E. Maba Neilgherrensis, (R. W.)

1. Male flower.

2. Corolla detached and opened.

4. Detached stamens.

5. Calyx opened, the stamens (9 in this case) inserted round the base of the sterile ovary.

6. Female flower.

7. Detached corolla.

8. Calyx split open, to show the ovary in situ.

9. Ovary cut vertically.

10. cut transversely, 3-celled with two ovules

in each.

11. An immature fruit.

12. cut vertically.

13. cut transversely.

14. Seed divided longitudinally, embryo in situ.

15. Embryo detached.

This order is one of comparatively recent date, the genera composing it having, previous to their separation by Brongniart in 1826, been associated with those of Rkamnece and Celastrineoe. In 1825 D. C. constituted them a tribe of his order Celaslrinece, under the name Aquifoliacece, from an old generic name of Ilex, which, however, he did not retain as an authority for his tribal designation and, in so far I believe, departed from his own rules of nomenclature. But be that as it may, it appears that nearly all Botanists think so, as Lindley and Meisner seem to be the only ones who adopt that as the ordinal name. My sentiments quite coinciding with those of the majority, I adopt the name under which the order, as an order, was first defined and limited. It has 11 genera assigned to it in the most recent lists, but no fewer than six of those have a mark of doubt added, indicating that they may not properly belong to it, and two of the remainder seem to me to constitute but a single genus, the differences between Ilex and Prinos being of specific value only ; Ilex having the corolla 4-5-lobed, Prinos six-lobed; in all other respects they are the same. Hence both Ilex Garderiana and /. Wightiana unite within themselves both genera, these species having as often 6 as 5 lobes to their corollas, and cells to their ovaries. /. denticulata, according to these definitions, is a true Ilex, except that it is very generally polygamous, which, according to the character, it ought not to be.

The species consist of Evergreen trees and shrubs of which the common English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is the type, with the exception of the leaves, it being about the only one of the 60 or 70 species in which they are so strongly armed with lateral spines. The leaves of the only Indian ones with which I am acquainted have not a trace of them.

Flowers small, white or greenish, axillary, solitary or clustered, sometimes unisexual by abortion, sepals 4-6, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla 4-6- parted, hypogynous, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens inserted on the corolla, alternate with its segments ; filaments erect ; anthers adnate, two-celled, opening longitudinally. Disk none. Ovary fleshy, superior, somewhat truncate, with from 2 to 6 or more cells ; ovules solitary, anatropal, pendulous, and often hanging from a cup-shaped funeculus ; stigma subsessile, lobed. Fruit fleshy, indehiscent, with from 2 to 6 or more stones. Seed suspended, nearly sessile ; albumen large, fleshy ; embryo small, 2-lobed, lying next the hilum, with minute cotyledons, and a superior radicle. — Evergreen trees or shrubs, whose branches are often angular. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, coriaceous, without stipules. Lindley.