NAMED RAFFLESIA. 389
On these resemblances, however, I am not disposed to insist ; and I am even persuaded that there is here no real affinity ; though I confess I have no other ohjcctions to state to it than the valvular aestivation of the perianthium, and the al)sence both of the corona and of the annular elevations at the base of the cohuun in Slerculiacecn.
To conchule tliis part of my subject, I am incUned to think that Baf/Iesia, when its structure is completely known, will be fouiul to approach either to Asarinccov Passiflorcce ; and that, from our present imperfect materials, notwith- standing the very slight affinity generally supposed to exist between these two orders, it cannot be absolutely determined to which of them it is most nearly allied.
The only question that remains to be examined respecting Baflles'ia is, whether the floAver with its enveloping bracteae and reticulate base do not together form a complete plant parasitic on the root from which it springs ?
That such was probably the case, occurred to me on [224 first inspecting the flower bud ; the opinion being suggested not only b}^ the direct origin of the flower from the root, but more particularly by the disposition, texture and colour of the bracteae ; in which it so nearly resembles certain plants known to be ])arasites, as Cijtinus, Cijnomonum, CahJasia of jMutis,^ BalanojjJwra, and Sarcophyic.
In this opinion I was confirmed on seeing the figure of the plant mentioned in Dr. Arnold's letter, as probably related to the Great Flower, though not more than three inches in diameter.
The plant in question, which had been found in Java by Dr. Ilorsfield several years before the discovery of BaJJlesla
^ In the Journal of Science, vol. iii. p. 127, fi'oni El Semanario del Nuevo Reyno dc Granada, for 1810. To this j^enus belonpj Cijnomorium jamaicenaey and perhaps cmjancnse of Swartz, au unpublished species from Brazil, and some otlier ))lants of equinoctial America. Before the appearance of Caldasia in the Journal of Science, I was aware that these plants formed a genus very distinct from Cj/)iomorium (Journal of Science, iii, p. 129), but I had not given it a name, which is still wanting, that of Caldasia having long been applied to a very different, and well known genus.
The new name, however, may be left to M. Kicliard, who is about to publish, and who will no doubt illustrate with his usual accurac}^ the )ilants formerly referred to Cj/nomorium, of one of the species of which {0. cai/aticnsc) he is him- self the discoverer.
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