For, in the first place, its habit is entirely that of the original species of the genus. And secondly, though the pericarpium of Leontice Leontopetalum, which is the type of the genus, remains shut until the ripening of the seeds, and attains a size more than sufficient for the mere purpose of containing them; yet in Leontice altaica, a species in other respects more nearly approaching to L. Leontopetalum than to L. thalictroides, the pericarpium, though it enlarges considerably after impregnation, is ruptured by the seeds long before they have arrived at maturity.
The accompanying drawing, for which I am indebted to my friend Mr. Ferdinand Bauer, will materially assist in explaining the singular economy now described; and may also perhaps render more intelligible the account I proceed to give of the second instance in which I have observed an analogous structure, but to illustrate which I have at present no drawing prepared.
147] This second instance occurs in Peliosanthes Teta of Andrews's Repository and the Botanical Magazine.
In this monocotyledonous plant, which in 1812 nearly ripened seed in Mr. Lambert's collection at Boyton, the ovarium coheres with the tube of the perianthium or corolla, and has originally three cells, each containing two ovula. Soon after impregnation has taken place, from one to three of these ovula rapidly increase in size, by their pressure prevent the development of the others, and rupture the ovarium, which remains, but little enlarged at the base of the fruit, consisting of from one to three naked berry-like seeds.
In the Botanical Magazine Mr. Ker, in describing a second species of Peliosanthes,[1] takes the opportunity of altering in some respects the character of the genus he had previously given, and of adding a description of its supposed pericarpium, from an inspection, as it seems, of the unripe fruit of Peliosanthes Teta. It is evident, however, that he is not aware of its real structure; and consequently does not succeed in reconciling its appearance with the unquestionable fact of its having "germen inferum."
- ↑ Botan. Magaz. 1532.
