I t has already been observed th a t th e cella in th è ovary are numerous ;. i® th e one 'here represented, (Tab. IV ., Fig. 15,) thirty-séven may b e èpuntèd.
They are vertically placed, much compressed, an d th ey radiate from th e ceritre towards the-circumference. The ovules (Tab. IV ., Fig. 1 6 ) are
numerous, inserted b y means o f a short thick/foiicfe o n ‘th e w ills o f th e cells on both sides.
I R U I T .
As we have before remarked, the fertilised ovary pa rts with its floral coverings, which decay away, exc ept th e ad he rent calyx, and sinks under
water to perfect its fruit and ripen its seeds ; then rising n e a r th e surface before th e seeds a re dispersed.
Th e Fruit is a very large Berry, nearly globose, or ra th e r urceolate-globose, for the re is a constriction below th e thickened margin (see Tab. IV.,
Fig. 17), horrid with th e copious persistent prickles, o f an olive brown colour. T h e thickened -corrugated *riin, as may b e a t Once seen by comparing
th e section o f th e ovary (Tab. IV., Fig. 9 ) with th e fruit (Fig. 17), is nothing¿ more th an th e shrivelled pe rsistent annular torus, a t th e ba ck o f which
may be observed th e scars o f th e fallen sepals and petals, on th e top those o f -the deciduous stamens ; and, in th e inside Of th e rim. we clearly
discern th e impressions left b y th e bodies which we described as crowning th e margin o f th e stigma, (Tab. IV., Figg. 17; l i | The annular to ru s is
incorporated with th e whole o f th e cup-shaped stigma, and th e two to ge the r form a large and curious operculum, which eventually separates from th e fruit.
I ts shape (see T ab. IV., Fig. 18) is almost exactly like th a t o f a wash-hand basin ; i t is Coriaceous a n d leathery, beautifully fluted an d ribbed within and
w ithout; i t bears,--on th e lower edge o f th e rim, a portion o f th e adherent-calyx, with a circle o f sp r e a d in g prickles. :
Although th e falling away o f the g re a t operculum might lead to 'th e id e a th a t Such was th e mode o f dehiscence o f th e fru it; y e t th a t is n o t th e
case, for th e pericarp bursts irregularly, soon decays, an d th e seeds (Tab. IV ., Fig. 19) are found sc a tte red and loose among th e pu lp . These seeds-are
greenish-black, about th e size o f a large pea, b u t more oval th an globose, with a slight projection a t th e u p p e r end o r p o in t o f attachment. The testa
is hard and crustaceous, even on th e surface. Albumen copious, farinaceous ; milky and cellular w hen y oung. T h e Embryo sniall, white, enclosed in a
membranous sack, is lodged a t th e u p p e r end o f th e albumen ; th e Cotyledons are hemispherical, th ick and fleshy. Radicle sh o rt a nd superior.
S E E D IN G E R M I N A T I O N .
Mr. Fitch h ad th e opportunity o f drawing an embryo plant, or a seed in a state o f germination, th e te s ta still a ttached to . th e in fan t plant
(Tab. IV ., Fig. Germination has sta rted from th e u p p e r en d o f th e seed. A few fibrous simple radicles have begun to fprm th e root, above
which three or four seed-leaves have appe a red ; th ey are all thin and membranous, th e petioles slightly hairy. T h e youngest leaf-is linear, o r almost
filiform;; th e n ex t is hastate ; th e third is sagittate, an d th e fourth is n e a rly ovate, with a de ep incision a t th e base. F u tu re leaves gradually ¡assume
th e form o f those already fully de scribed; th e outline becomes m o re orbicular, th e incision is more and more closed, till th e lobes me e t and unite, and
th e le a f exhibits an almost perfectly circular form, though, as before observed, th e re is a distinct line, indicating, as i t were, t h e pla c e wheré th e two
lobes were separated in th e early stage o f th e plant.