NATUfvAL ORDERS. 151
Magnoliaceoi and CedrelecB, which arc common to America and India, liavc not heen fonnd on the continent of Africa, nor on any of the adjoining Islands.
GuUifercB and llesperidece exist, though sparingly, on other parts of the coast.
A few plants really belonging to MeJiaccce have been found on other parts of western eqninoctial Africa, and a species of Leea (or Aquilicia, for these are only different names for the same genus) which was formerly referred to this order, occurs in the herbariinn from Consfo.
M. de Jussieu, who has lately had occasion to treat of the affinity of xVquilicia,^ docs not venture to fix its ])lace in the system. Its resemblance to Vinifera) in the singular structure of seeds, in the valvular aestivation of the corolla, in the division of its leaves, the presence of stipules, and even in inflorescence, appears to me to determine, if not its absolute union, at least its near affinity to that order. Of VinifercE, Vitis is at present the only certain genus ; for Cissus and Ampeh}ms having, as Richard has already observed, exactly the same structure of ovarium, namely, two cells with two erect collateral ovula in each, should surely be referred to it ; nor is there any part of the character or description of Botria of Lourciro, which pre- vents its being also included in the same genus.
Lasianthera of M. de Beauvois,^ referred by its author to Apocineac, but which iM. de Jussieu has lately sug- [kjc gested may belong to Vinifera?,^ is too imperfectly known to admit of its place being determined.
forming; a third section, from the remarkable evolution of its embryo and con- sequent want of albumen. Id the ajstivation of calyx and corolla it ac^rccs with Jacquiiiia, which together with Theophrasfa^ (or Clavija of the Flora Peruviana), forms the fourth section ; characterised by the squama?, more or less distinct, of the faux, of the corolla, and by generally ripening more than one seed. The fifth, includes only Btcobotrt/s of Forstcr (the M<€sa of Forskal) which, having ovarium inferum and five barren filaments alternating with the segments of the corolla, bears the same relation to the other genera of this order, that Samolus does to rrimulacca.\ On the near aflinity, and slight differences in fructification, between this family and Myrsincas, 1 have formerly made a few remarks in the Prodr. Plor. Nov. lIoU. 1, \). 53:^ ' Mem. (Ill Mas. iVliist. Nat. 3, ;j. 4-37 ct 441. - Flore iVOicare, !,_/;. S5.
^ Lor. cit,
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