Page:Miscellaneousbot01brow.djvu/429

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UAl'lLKSIA AKN()T-1)I. 11 1

the ovuhi, ill the stnicturo of the seed and in that of the aiithene.

The second section, Ilj/clnorrcc, formed of Uf/clnom alone, is characterised by its completely adherent ovarium, singu- larly divided stigmata, the peculiar oriuin and struct ure of its pendulous phicentfe, its embryo enclosed and seated in the centre of a dense albumen, and by the arrangement and structure of its anthera\

In the third section, or ("y///^^^, the placenta) are piirietal, the ovarium is connate with the calyx, Jind the cellular [-230 undivided embryo forms the whole mass of the seed, or is apparently destitute of albumen.^

That this third section is nearly related io Asarince seems to me unquestionable ; if, therefore, its aitinity to lli/dnora and liaj/lcsia be admitted, the place of this singular family would be nearly established.

That Bafflesia, llijdnora and Cf/linus do not essentially differ from many of the more perfectly developed Pha?no- gauious plants in their vascular structure, I have satisfac- torily ascertained, and there is no sufficient reason to doubt that the same observation may be extended to Brugniaima.

In my former paper, in treating of the composition of the

  • To the third section of llafflesiacefc^ Apodoiiihes and PUosti/les may perhaps

be referred. These j^enera indeed aj^ree with Cyluiv.s in their unilocular ovarium with parietal [)laeentation, in their cellular undivided embryo forming the whole mass of the seed, anti in their adherent or semi-adherent ovarium, whose cavity in Filosiijles extends even below the insertion of the braeU^se. The existence of petals, however, in both, and es))ecially in Jpo(laiil/ies,vi\\\ probably be considered as an objection of some weight to their absolute union with Cyiinea- ; and there is even an important dilYerence in their plucentation, the ovula being produced equally over the whole surface of the ovarial cavity, while in Ci/dnua the placenttc are distinct, definite in number, and subdivided into numerous lobes, nearly as in Orchidcce.

Whether Apodanthes and Pilosfi/les are to be included in the snme genus, as Professor Endlicher (in Gen. p. 70) first conjectured, and as Mr. Gardner lias more recently (in Hooker Ic, new ser. vol. iii, tab. Oil) endeavoured to prove though not imj)robable, must, I think, remain somewhat doubtful so long as we are unaequaiutcd with the male flower of Apodanihes. In the mean time this genus may be distinguished froui niosfyles by the singular insertion of its petals, M-hich also diilV'r remarkably in texture from the quadrilid persistent calyx, and by the two bracteic of the flower being seated below the origin of an augidar ovarial cavity, and which, after the falling oil" of the iiarasite, remain attached to the stock.

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