388 ACCOUNT OF A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS,
which is very doiibtful, however, and can only be deter- mined by an examination of the frnit, it may also be com- pared with Rafflesia. At first sight this singular genus seems to resemble our plant in several respects, particularly in the manner of insertion of its sessile flower into the branch, in the bractese surrounding the ovarium, the con- fluence and dilatation of its fllaments, and in the existence of a double corona. But some of these points are obviously unimportant ; and the comparison between the corona of the great flower and the double corolla of Belvisia will probably be considered paradoxical.-^
It seems unnecessary to compare Rafflesia with Citcur- hitacece, to which it could only be considered as approach- ing, if its affinity to Ajjhyteia should appear probable, and the relationship of that genus to Ciicurbitacece, suggested chiefly by the structure of antherse, were at the same time admitted.
223] The points of agreement between Bafflesia and Sterculi- acecB are the division and form of the coloured perianthium, the sessile antherse terminating a column, and the separa- tion of sexes.
1 M. de Beauvois, iu his account of Napoleona {Flore cVOware ii, p. 32), has mentioned a genus allied to it, which has been since published by M. Desfon- taines under the name of Asteranthos. These two genera are without doubt nearly related ; and, even independent of the structure of fruit, which in both remains to be ascertained, possess sufficient characters to separate them from every known family, as M. de Jussieu is disposed to think ; and certainly from SpnplocecB^ where M. Desfoutaines has placed them.
In adopting the generic name proposed by M. Desvaux for Napoleona, this order may be called
Belyise^e.
Calyx mouophyllus, limbo diviso, persistens. Corolla 1 monopetala, plicata, (multiloba vel iudivisa ; simplex v. duplex) decidua. Stamina vel deflnita v. indefinita; basi corollse inserta. Odarmm'\\\'itx\\m. Stylus^. StigmaV^idXw.m V. angulatum. Pericaipium baccatum, polyspermum.
Erutices (Africse eequinoctialis ; an etiam Brasilia^ ?) foliis alternis integerri- mis exstipulatis.Jloribus axillaribiis lateralibasve solitariis.
Belvisia, Desvaux in Journal de Botajtique appliq. iv, /;. 130.
Napoleona, Palisot de Beauvois Flore d'Oware \\^p. 29.
Calyx h-Jidus. Corolla? duplex; exterior indivisa; interior (e staminibus sterilibus connatis formata?) multifida. Stamina: Filamenta 5 dilatata bian- therifera.
AsTERANTHOS, Desfont. in Mem. du- Mas. vi, p. 9, tab. 3.
Calyx multidentatus. Corolla ? simplex multiloba. Stamina indefinite numerosa distincta.
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