VI. On Gripidea, cc i i ew Gems of the Loasaceze, toitJL 61% account of s m e Pecudiarities in. the Structure of the Seeds ~ Y L tlznt Fclnzily. B y JOHN MIERS, 3 .R.X. & L.X., COUL- mend. Ord. 3np. Bras. Rosw.

(Plate XXVIII.)

Read April 20, 1865.

IN the collection of plants from the interior of Brazil, made by Mr. Weir for the Royal Horticultural Society, there is a species belonging to the Loccscccea so much at variance with others of that family, that it will form the type of a new genus, for which I propose the name of Gr@idea*. Its chief peculiarities consist in having only five stamens oppo- site each of the five larger petals, in the shape of its stigma, the structure of its capsule, and the organization of its seeds. I ts large scabrid leaves, upon long petioles, are opposite, suborbicular, cordate, and divided into five unequal lobes, which are eroscly denticulated. It has axillary and dichotomously ramified paniclcs, whose branches are furnished at their origin with nearly sessile bract-like leaflets, while a solitary flower upon a long pedicel issues f roa the sinus of each dichoborny. The flowers have five larger petals, which are hooded in a pculiar manner ; the ovary is almost entirely infe- rior, leaving a short pulvinate portion above the segments of tlis cdyx ; the style is erect, and terminated by a stigma of three linear lobes, broadly fringed on their margins, the ovary itself being unilocular, with three Some what spiral, longituclinal, sessile, placenti- ferous lines, upon which numerous ovules are crowded. The capsule, of thin chartaceous texture, is of a long cylindrical shape, somewliat narrower towards the base, and is exowned with the persistent reflected leaflets of the calyx, the pulvinate cap, and the remnant of the style : it is marked by numerous spiral nermres, and finally splits into three ribbon- shaped helical valves, that remain joined together at the summit and base, and which bear on their margins numerous small and almost scobiform seeds.

From these characters it will be seen that the genus belongs to the section Helicte- roides, differkg from most of the genera of that section in its adnate parietal placenh : in this respect it approaches S'cypkmzthzcs ; but the latter genus has a far more attenuated capsule, which opens by three teeth in the apex, and finally splits into three linear straight coriaceous valves, which separate also at the top, and thus become entirely free ; the two genera are likewise at variance in the nature of their seminal integuments, the form of their embryo, the shape of their petals, the number of their stamens, in their stigma, the character of their inflorescence, and in their general habit.

Although Cuiophora agrees with it in its capsule, which bursts along its sides into three spiral valves, adhering together at their extremities, it is at variance with it in the number of its stamens, in its stigma, but more especially in its three spiral bilamellar

* From ypiaos, rete, &a, forma, because of the retiform covering of its Seeds. 2 1 2

228 MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE LOASACEE.

placentte, n-hich p j e c t far into the middle of the cell, thus rendering it almost 3-locular : the structure of the seed of Ccriophorcc will be presently shown to be very diffcreiit.

Blzcmeizbnchicc also differs from it in many of its floral characters, but more especiallr in the very dissimilar shape and structure of its spiral capsule, its peculiai* mode or" placentation, and the development of its seeds.

The structure of the seed in G~ipidea presents features that command attention. This, at first sight, seems as if it had a long transparent wing at each extremity; but when examined under a leiis, these wings are seen to form part of a curved long cylindrical sac, pointed at both encls, with two constrictions near the middle, being five times the length and twice the breadth of a dark opake body which appears to float in its centre ; this integumental sac is formed of stout cancellated bars, with large elongated and some- what hexagonoidal spaces, formed of a thin pellicular colourless meidwane, marked with small pellucid spots ; there is no apparent aperture in any part of the integument, no hilar scar by which it may ham been attached to the inner flotant body or t o the placenta, nor the smallest trace of a duct or tracheal vessel of any kind that could form the channel of nutritory communication between the placenta and the enclosed nucleus. The seed bears much resemblance to that of Bictgostega, belonging to Bzcrmccmiacecz, figured in the Linnean ' Transactions,' vol. xviii. pl. 37. The inner body, when removed, is found to be quite free from the integument just described ; it is oval, black, opake, with a sculptured surface, formed of hexagonoidal hollows, and is terminated at its upper end by a funnel-shaped membrane, open at its apparently laciniated mouth, and formed of slender cancellated bars, with transparent spaces so finely attenuated as to vanish gradually into an almost insensible pellick, which perhaps extends t o the extremity, remaining adherent to the outer coating ; but if so, it cannot be traced on account of its extreme tenuity : at its lower extremity this integument is more pointed, and vanishes in a similar manner ; but we cannot perceive the smallest vestige of any raphe or chalaza either in the transparent extremities or in the thick opalie middle portion of this inte- gument; when this second coating is removed, we find a third, membranaceous, thin, translucent, reticulated coating, which closely invests the oval-shaped albumen, and which is entirely devoid of vessels ; the embryo, which is nearly the length of the albu- men, is quite straight, terete, with its radicle pointing upwwds, the latter being some- what longer than the two semi-cylindrical cotyledons, which are equal to it in diameter.

I expected, by the examination of ovules in their early stage of growth, that, from the greater tenuity of their membranes, some light would be thrown on this anomaly, but I was disappointed: the integuments of an ovule half advanced to maturity are similar in shape t o those of the ripe seed, the outer coating is even more lax, and the inner body can be moved within it with even more facility, appearing to be quite free ; the second integument, now more transparent, is expanded in a similar manner at both extremities, and under a powerful microscope no trace of any nourishing vessels can be detected, nor any scar at either extremity to denote the presence of either micropyle or chalaza.

On examining an ovary at the period of the maturity of the flower, its very numerous scobiform ovules are seeii divaricately suspended from, and densely imbricated upon, the

MR. J O H N MIERS ON THE LOASACEB. 229

three nerve-like lines of parietal placentation : the ovule at this stage much resembles the seed in shape, but is without any constriction ; the outer delicate lax integument, very elongated and attenuated at each cxtrernity, shoms in its middle an oblong body of denser texture, as before mentioned : the only circurnstaiice worthy of note is, however, of some value, as we here ascertain the position of the hilar point of suspension, which is at the upper extremity; and from this me learn its relation to the direction of the embryo, which is not t o be detected in the ripe seed taken from a capsule after desiccation.

The foregoing details naturally suggest the inquiry, What is the nature of these seminal envelopes, which, in an anatropous seed, exhibit neither a raphe nor a chalaza? I am aware that many botanists will regard this question as too trivial in its nature to merit discussion, and i d 1 consider the condition of the seminal tunics of no import- ance in a practical point of view, because it affords them little assistance in determining the genus or species to which any plant may belong. On the other hand, any condition of the seminal tunics at variance with the ordinary rule of development becomes a matter of extreme interest to those who have made physiological botany their study ; they will, of course, endeavour to ascertain the cause of the want of the usual organic connexion between the two integuments above mentioned, as well as of the total absence of those nourishing vessels, which ordinarily extend from the placenta t o the chalaza1 base of the seminal coatings, and which we have been taught to believe are essentially necessary to the development and growth of seeds.

There can be no doubt of the facts above stated ; and it is of some importance to know that it is not a solitary instance, for I find the same circumstances repeated under still more manifest conditions in other genera of the same family. I n Bartonia, for example, the seed is very different in form and appearance ; it is orbicular, extremely compressed, with a central opake disk, surrounded by a delicately reticulated translucid wing, from a point on the margin of which it is attached to the placenta in a horizontal position. By introducing the point of a knife into the margin of this wing, and carrying it round its circumference, it becomes divided into two platter-shaped halves, thus showing the wing to be a portion of an entire, flattened, integumental sac, enclosing an opake body in the hollow of the discoidal central space, where it rests without the appearance of any attachment whatever between it and the sac; there is only a deposit of loose cellular* tissue between them, in the form of opake-white granules. When viewed under a microscope, this delicate outer integument appears uniformly and finely reticulated ; no vessel of any kind, no cicatrix, no trace of either raphe or chalaza, no indication of any organic connexion between it and its enclosed disk can be detected: the central disk- shaped body is formed of an extremely thin mass of albumen, covered by a colourless pel- licular membrane, too delicate to be detached in an entire state ; and though both are very transparent, they show no trace of vessels of ally liincl; were they present, they could not fail to be detected in membranes of such great tenuity. The albumen contains an embryo, with a terete radicle pointing to the remote placentary point of attachment on the margin of the seed; the cotyledons are flat and orbicular, their diameter being equal to the length, and twice the thickness, of the radicle. We may contrast this structure

230 MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE LOASACEB.

with that seen in Eccronzocurps and other Bignoniaceous genera, where the seed has an opake disk, surrounded by a broad annular membranaceous wing, as in Bcwtoizicc ; there, a manifest hilsr point is seen on the edge of the disk, not on the wing, and a distinct linear raphe extends across it, from that hilar point, till it reachcs the opposite edge of the disk, at the chalaza1 point where the two integuments adhere together. It is quite different in Bccrtoniu, where, owing to the absence of a raphe and chalaza, the inner integument floats in the centre of the outer membranaceous sac, without any visible point of attachment between them; in this case, the great transparency of the two inte- guments renders a mistake impossible.

A third instance of the same anomalous structure is found in Blzcme~zbccc?&, where the outer coating of the seed is a cancellated lax integument resembling that of Gripideu ; it is three times the length and twice the breadth of an inner oval body which is very dark and opake, and which floats in the centre of the large vacant space, without the smallest apparent organic connexion between it and the outer cancellated tunic : this inner body has a thin covering of white cellular tissue of papery consistence, though so lax as to be easily wiped off by a slight friction ; beneath it, is a firmer, brown, but deli- cate integument, with a rugous surface, having a small depression with a minute papilla at its apex, and a scarcely perceptible mamillary projection at its base, without any scar or thickening of the integument ; nor is there the slightest vestige of a raphe, which mould certainly be seen if it were present, for this coating, when removed, is transparent and, as well as the others, regularly reticulated ; this third integument tightly invests a fleshy albumen, which shows the same apical depression and almost imperceptible basal protuberance as in the investing tunic; it encloses an embryo with a superior terete radicle, and oblong flattish cotyledons equal t o it in length and somewhat broader than it.

The seed of Caiophorcc, which has not hitherto been correctly described, presents a similar phenomenon; its outer tunic is long and cylindrical, but, unlike the former instances, it closely invests the inner integument; it is provided at its apex with a per- sistent black polished process, and is singularly furnished from top to bottom with about twelve broad, equal, longitudinal, radiating wings, whose breadth equals the diameter of the tunic ; the cylindrical portion is transparent and regularly reticulated, but the wings are marked along their margin and at equal distances by simple transverse bars, which make as many rectangular areolar spaw, filled by a hyaline delicate membrane faintly striated by oblique and nearly parallel veins ; the wall of the cylindrical portion, though quite transparent, shows no indication of a raphe. The second tunic is opakely white, as in BZzcmefi6achicc, and is in like mamer formed of rather lax cellular tissue; it is free from the outer coating, as well as from the third integument, except at its apex, where it adheres by a point to the apicd black strophiolar process before mentioned ; it closely invests the third delicate reticulated brown coating, which resembles that of BZuvze.lzbccc?ziu, and has a minute black speck at its summit and base; but there is no sign of any nourishing vessels upon any of the three integuments. The embryo, imbedded in the axis of fleshy albumen, is long, narrow, perfectly terete, with a superior radicle somewhat longer than its cotyledons, which are equal to it in thickness.

MR. JOHN MIERS ON THE LOASACE&,. 231

In Xcyyhcmthus, the structure of the seed is similar to that of Zoasa, that is to say, it is anatropous, of an oval shape, with a short terminal strophiolar expansion ; it is opake and deeply pitted or foveolated ; and when this outer tunic is removed, the ridges which separate the external pits just mentioned are found to consist of csncellated bars, with intervening pellicular spaces, analogous to the outer integument of Gripidea; but, as in all the previous cases, there is no visible raphe, nor any appearance of a chalaza, either upon it or on the delicate integument which invests the albumen.

In Raphisadhe the seed is of an oval form, rendered trigonous by three narrow longi. tudinal ridges ; the outer integument, as in some species of LOUSCG, is very thick, witli a minutely bullated surface, being rigid and brittle, formed of numerous corneous cells, and easily softened in boiling water ; it has a strophiolar projection in its apex : the inner capacity of this thick tunic has twice the length and nearly double the breadth of the inner body seen within it; this inner body is of an oblong shape, and consists of the albdmen, covered by a pellicular and finely reticulated integument, with a black apical micropylar point, by which it is attached to the strophiolar process, so that it is thus suspended in the summit of the vacant space ; and it has another minute dark speck at its lower extremity, which is far removed from the bottom of the cell of the outer integu- ment-a fact of considerable importance in this inquiry ; it is covered by an extremely pellicular white intermediate envelope, as in the preceding genera, but which in this instance, rather adheres to the outer tunic ; this envelope, from its great tenuity, might easily escape observation. It is worthy of remark, that there is no appearance of a raphe in any of these integuments. This genus has a spiral cylindrical capsule, much resem- bling that of Gripidea; but its placentation is nearly that of CGiophorct, that is to say, it has two lamellar seminiferous plates upon each of the three spiral lines of placentation, which nearly reach the centre of the cell. This genus differs from Gj*ipidea in the from of its petals, in the number of its stamens, its placentation, and in the structure of its seeds*.

I n Ancyrostemma; and Netztxelitc the seeds are oval; in the former, suspended by a curved strophiolar process, which looks like a transparent membranaceous funicle ; their outer coating, as in Gripidea, is foveolated and divided by promiiient bars into elongated hexagonoidal areoles, the interspaces being formed of very reticulated membrane ; this coating, as in Xcyphalztlzus, closely invests an extremely delicate inner integument, with much smaller square reticulations, which give it the appearance of being transversely striated, but there is no vestige of any tracheal vessels in either of these translucent tunics ; upon the inner one, which is perfectly white, there is a small black spot at the apex, and one at the base so very minute as to be scarcely visible. In both genera, the embryo, shaped as in ficyphanthus, is imbedded in the axis of the albumen.

* The genus Raphisanthe was proposed by Liija, in 1841 (Linnza, xv. 263), upon the Lorna latektia, Hooker ; but it hasnot been acknowledged by botanists. Klotzsch was evidently wrong in making it identical with Caiophora; it appears to me a valid genus. I have examined another plant, which corresponds in structure with the type, and which forms a second species, viz.-

Chile, 2'. 8. in her6. meo, Cordil- lera de Maule (Germain).

2. Raphisanthe Ochagavia :-Loasa Ochagavk, Philzjyi (LinnEea, xxviii. 641).

232 MR. JOHN RITERS ON THE LOASACEB.

I have been precise in the description of the seeds in all the foregoing genera, because of the uniformity in the want of a raphe in their seminal integuments, which is a feature of too remarkable a character to be passed over without special inquiry. By analogy, it must be presumed that at an early stage in thc growth of the ovule, which in the Lousucm is certainly anatropous, some means must have existed for conveying the nutriment from the placenta to the base of the ovulc, and for effecting, through the chalaza, the secretion of the amniotic fluid; for Mr. Robert Brown, the highest of all authorities on this subject, has shown* that the function of the chalaza is not only to assist in the nu- trition of the proper membranes of thc seed, lout for the higher purpose of secreting the amnios, the albumen being that portion of this fluid which remains after all the rest has been absorbed in the development of the embryo. He, as well as Mirbel, who followed in the same path, showed that in an atropous ovule there is no need of a raphe ; but where the ovules are more or less anatropous (or, as they have been improperly termed, inverted T), the raphe becomes the essential channel for conveying nutrition from the placenta to the chalaza, and that it uniformly belongs to the outer integu- ment $ ; hence it followed as a rule, that any external coating of an anatropous seed, void of a raphe, must be of extraneous origin, derived generally from a growth of the placenta, or more rarely from an expansion of a caruncular swelling of the foramen of the outer proper integument, and is therefore in its nature arilloid. The enunciation of these facts as a general law, together with the disclosure of the circumstances under which the em- bryo-sac is evolved and fertilized, were rightly regarded as the most brilliant accession to our knowledge in modern times, and justly obtained for their great discoverer the high distinction of ‘‘ Botanicorurn Princeps.”

Taking these facts into consideration, we must either suppose that in the original integuments of the ovule in the Loccsace~ a raphe once existed, which by some process of absorption has disappeared, or we must imagine that the evolution and growth of the ovule must be effected by some other functional contrivance, yet unknown, different from the ordinary laws of development. There is little in the appearance of the integu- ments to support the former supposition; for if we imagine the vascular cord to have disappeared, we certainly ought to perceive the vestiges of its course in the irregu- larity of the areoles in the reticulation of the outer coating, but no such irregularities can be discerned. Under the second supposition, I confess my inability to form any satisfactory conjecture ; the only one that occurs to me is the possibility that, by some kind of capillary action, the proper nutriment may be conveyed through the cells of the lax and scarcely aggregated tissue of the intermediate pellicular coating ; but this would apply only to Caiophora, Blumenbachia, and a few others, but not to Gripidecc, where the structure of the intermediate integument is very different. On the other hand, it might be imagined that the lax intermediate coating is the vestige of the original outer tunic of the ovule, which has withered and become absorbed, while the outer seminal integument may have originated from an expansion of the foramen or of the placenta,

* Linn. Trans. x. 35. t “ On the Development of the Vegetable Ovule, called Antrtropous,” Ann. Nat. IIist. 3rd series, iv. 15 ; Contrib.

Bot. i. 200. $ Gen. Bern. p. 55.

6 ) 9 MR. JOHN &TIERS O N THE LOASACEYE. -.>?>

in which case it would be an arilloid, certainly not aii arillus, which is always an ema- nation from the chalaza : this view might be supportckl 1)y tlie fact of tlie suspension of the inner body of the seed in Bu~~l~iscc.izl~'~?, aiid its attztchincnt at the suminit wit]ti11 the much larger capacity of the outer integuincnt ; but this supposition is again (.on- tradicted by the structure of the seed of Buc,~lo~ziu, wlierc the inner liocly ltas 710 sucli organic connexion, either at the apical point of suspeiision or at tlie oppositc extrelnity. Indeed, the whole seminal structure of the Lousucea offers an cliigiiin ivliicli can oldy be solved by careful observations upon the living plants, by watcliing tlie successive growth of the ovules from tlicir earliest stages, and tracing the channel through which nutrition is conveyed from the placenta for the secretion of the amniotic fluid, the growth of the albumen, and the perfection of the embryo.

It may here be noticed, that Brown observed a similar anoinaly in thc intcgunicnt of the seed in Orehidueea ; he showed (Linn, Trans. vol. xvi. 710) that i t is entiwly -\I-ithout vessels, and that the funicle at its origin is never v-ascular, being iiiscrtcd in the r i p seed upon the outer integument, close to one side of its open foranien, turd c:m ha~cll?; be traced beyond that point. I t is singular that this great botanist slioulcl have al- lowed this anomaly to pass without pursuing it further ; but hc 1)robably al)staiiiccll froui this, under the idea he once evidently entertained, that this outer tunic is aii arillus (Prodr. 310). It is true that he afterwards traced the growth of this tunic from its earliest pullulation, and observed its gradual and anatropous espansioii (Linn. Trans. vol. xvi. 710) ; he there described this tunic under the name of testa, aiid we may perhaps ascribe his reticence concerning the cause of so unusual an occurrence in the outer tuiiic, t o his inability to discover the structure of the opake nucleus contaiiied within it, the 11' ci t ure of which, owing to its minute size, has not yet been detcriiiiiicd. Sulmqucntly Prof. Henfrey (Linn. Trans. vol. xxi. plate 2) figured the gradual anatropous growth of the ovule in Orehis up to the period of its fertilization, and he there shon-s tlie t11)soice of trachcal vessels in the funicle, as well as in both coats cf the ovule. I have noticed tbat in thc ovary and capsule of Orchids there i s an abuiidaiit supply of nmrisliiiig vessels, but t k y are entirely confined within the lines of placentation. P have also shown a very siinilar structure of the seeds in Bzwmuruziucea (Linn. Trans. vol. xvii. plate 38, fig. 4, and iii vol. xx. plate 15, figs. 17 & IS).

In all the foregoing descriptions, the use of the terms usually given to the seminal in- teguments has been avoided, because, in these instances, they do not exhibit the features which are universally regarded as necessary to the condition of testa and tegmen.

I n reference to what has hitherto been chronicled concerning the Aociscceea, it may be remarked, that numerous species of Louscc and its congeners have been described by botanists, but no one appears to have directed his attelltion to the peculiar organiza- tion of the integumental covering of their seeds ; at least I can nowhere find any distinct allusion either to the existence or absence of a raphe or chalaza in the seeds of that family; the universal silence on that point tends to confirm what I have stated. In the systematic works of DeCandolle, Endlicher, Lindley, and others, it is merely said that the ovules and seeds are anatropous, with the radicle in proximity to a vertical hilum. Prof. Agardh is the only botanist wlio has made particular reference to this

VOL. xxv. 2 K

23 1 MR. JOHN XlIERS ON THE LOASACEB.

subject ; but his conclusions are ambiguous, and may be questioned with much reason. Hc agrees with others in reg,?rd to their aiiatropous development ; at least, he says * that the ovules of Lousu, Cuiophora, and Blzcnwnbuchicc are pendulous and “ cpitropous ’’ (a term employed by him to denote an ordinary anatropous ovule with a ventral raphe, in contradistinction to his term “ apotropous ” where, as in I kx , the pendulous ovule has a dorsal raphe JT); he states, in addition, that in Microspermu (Bucnyide) and in Bur- toniu the ovules are heterotropous, a term now seldom used, but which iinplies that the hiiuin, or point of its attachment, is placed midway between the micropyle and cha- laza, or, in more ordinary language, amphitropous. This supposition is at variance with the drawing of the seed of MicTospermcC, given by Sir Wm. Hooker in his ‘Icones,’ plate 234. fig. 5 ; Zuccar.ini also says that the seed in this genus has an orthotropous embryo, with flat linear cotyledons in the axis of albumen. Prof. Rgardh is equally mistaken in regard to the seed of Bartonia, for the structure explained in the foregoing details is quite opposed to its heterotropous development. I n the work just quoted, he shows the figure of an ovule of Ciciophora (plate 18. fig. 8)’ where it is anatropous, with a ventral raphe, which latter feature is not mentioned in the text; he adds another of Lousu (fig. 7 ) , which is anatropous, without any indication of a raphe : in the explana- tion of these figures, he repeats that the ovule is nearly straight and heterotropous in Microspermu, curved and epitropous in Caiophora, adding that it is amphitropous in BZzcmenbachia, and nearly campylotropous in many species of Jousu. These declara- tions must be held doubtful, until they are supported by other authority; they are certainly not consistent with the diagnoses of the several genera of Lotxsuceg in Endli- cher’s ‘ Genera Ylantarum,’ where in every case the embryo is said to be orthotropous, or only slightly curved, and anatropous, which I have found to be true in every instance that has fallen under my notice, and I have shown in the previous details that the seed is not amphitropous in Blwmen6ccchia.

It may also be noticed that, in 1823, when few species of Aoasa were known, Schrader divided the genus into two sections:-lo, where the seeds have an arillus, the radicle pointing to the hilum; 2”, where they have no aril, the hilum being lateral. I have never met with a seed in this family with a lateral hilum; one instance only occurred to me where the radicle was slightly curved, but there it still pointed to the hilurn, which, correspondingly, was removed from the geometrical apex of the seed-a result which I attributed to the effect of pressure during growth.

We may hence infer, as a general rule, the exceptions to which are doubtful, that the ovules and seeds in the Loasacm are simply anatropous, with integumental cover- ings which have no visible raphe, that they are either horizontally attached to the placenta or suspended from it, and that the embryo is constantly orthotropous, or very slightly curved in the axis of albumen, with the radicle turned towards the hilum.

Having shown that Gripidea’ differs in many essential respects from all other genera of the family, I now proceed to enumerate its characters.

* Theor. Syst. p. 2fi2. t Ibid. Introd. p. Ixuiv.

MR. J O H N MIERS ON THE LOASACEB,. 235

GRIPIDEA, gen. nov. CaZyx cylindricus, spiraliter striatus, tub0 infero cum ovario connato, limbi laciniis 5, acutis, =qualibus,

reflexis, persistentibus. Petala 10, calyce inserta; 5 majora ejus laciniis alterna, gibboso-inflata, apice obliqua, et pileolato-cucullata, imo unguiculata ; 5 aItera multo minora, laciniis opposita, gib- boso-concava, unguiculata, ad apicem contracta, truncata et brevissime triloba, lobis reflexis, dorso triseta. Stamina fertilia 25 , in phalanges 5 ad ungues petalorum majorum fasciculata, erecta, sub- inclusa ; stamina sterilia 10, ante petala minora gcminatim afixa : Jilarnenta fertilium petalis q u i - longa, filiformia, glabra, imo breviter latiora ; sterilium ananthera, subulata, compressa, pilosa ; unthere minim=, ovatae, 2-locellatae, rimis Iongitudinalibus dehiscentes. Ovarium subcylin- dricum, pro majore parte inferum, parte supera pulviniforme, 1-loculare, placentis 3, parietalibus, subspiraliter longitudinalibus, ovula plurima creberrime imbricata et subdivaricatim suspensa gerentibus. Stylus simplex, pilosus. Stigma trifidum, laciniis longiusculis, acutis, erecto-conni- ventibus, margine fimbriato-laceratis. Capsula membranaceo-testacea, elongata, cylindrica, iino paulo attenuata, calycis laciniis reflexis coronata, apice pulvine styloque apiculata, hinc demuni operculatim 3-fissaY nervis plurimis eleganter striata, I -locularis, 3-valvis, valvis circa coronam caly- cinam etiamque ad basin arcte cohaent ibus et lateraliter apud suturas modo torsili hiantibus. Semina numerosissima, parva, circa margines valvarum ad placentas 3 toruloso-8agelliformes demum solutas creberrime suspensa ; inte.yumen2um externum elongatum, crumenatum, laxissimum, fortiter reticulato-cancellaturn ; tunica intermedia multo minor, soluta, et in centro natans, crassa, foveolato- reticulata, obscura, extremitatibus laxis in pellicula tenuissima evanescentibus ; integumentum in- ternum simplex, tenuissimum, reticulatum, albumen arcte vestiens ; albumen ovale, carnosum ; em- bryo inclusus, paulo brevior, cylindrico-oblongus, radicula supera, crassiuscula, cotyledonibus cjw- dem diametro paulo brevioribus.-Herbae Brasilienses scundentes, scahido-pilose ; folk opposiita, ex- stkulata, suborbicularia, inciso-lobata, corduta, imo 5-nervia, Ionge petio7ata ; p a n i d = axillares et terminales, basi nudu4 tandem dichotome ; flores sapius solitarii, pedicellati, in sinibus dichotomiururn orti, irno bracteis foliosis donati ; petala mnjora, viridi-aurantiacu, minora rubescentia.

1. GRIPIDEA SCABRS, nob. ; herbacea, ramis succulent 0-fist ulosis, striatis, ruguloso- verruculosis, petiolisque retrorsim rigide pilosis ; foliis latis, inzqualiter 5-1obis, imo profunde auriculato-cordatis, lobis acutis, subsinuatis, eroso-denticulatis, e basi Lnerviis, utrinque scabridis et vix adpresse pilosis, supra viridibus, subnitentibus, subtus pallidioribus, opacis, petiolo limbo zequilongo, subito deflexo ; paniculis op- positis, patentibus, pedunculo nudo, foliuin zquante, apice dichotome ramoso, ramis imo bracteatis, bracteis gradatim minoribus, foliaceis, subsessilibus, denticulatis, -8oribus in dichotomiis solitariis, pedicellatis. I n Brasilia meridionali.--u. s. da herb. Soc. Reg. Hort. Corvo, inter Coritiba et sinum ParanagttB, in prov. San Paulo (Weir, no. 465).

There is little to add to the above description, and the accompanying drawing of the plant. The larger petals are greenish on the sumlnit and back, and of a bright orange colour along the broad compressed margins ; the smaller petals, considered by many as nectarial processes, are of a pale reddish colour ; all the filaments are white, the fertile ones are nearly the length of the petals, and very slender ; the anthers are very small, oval, of a pale yellow colour, and dorsally affixed upon a fleshy conlzeetive.

2. GRIPIDEA ASPEBATA, nob. : Nentzelia aspe?*a, Vell. (aon Liiin.) 3'1. Hum. p. 224, Icon. vol. v. tab. 96 ;-herbacea, subprocumbeiis, ramis succulentis, pilosis ; foliis

2 K 2

236 N R . JOHN MIERS ON THE LOASACELE.

alternis, cordato-o~bicularibus, acutis, lobato-incisis, lobis 5-7 subaqualibus zqui- longis acutiusculis serPulato-cleiitatis, e basi 5-7-nerviis, utrinque asperato- hirtis, petiolo limbo subzquilongo ; inflorescentia e ramulo novello aut axillari vel terminali, pcdunculo bifloro, iino 2-brtzcteato ; bracteis oppositis, sessilibus, ovatis, acutis, deiiticulatis ; florihus brcviter pedicellatis ; sepalis parvis, denticulatis ; stami- nibus 5 in quoque pctalo rnajore alosconditis ; petalis minoribus multo abbreviatis ; capsula elongata, turbinato-cyliiidrica, rigide pilosa, valvis 3 spiralibus, seminibus pluriniis minutis. I n Brasilia.

I have no knowledge of this species beyond the short description of Velloz and his drawing of the plant, as above quoted: it evidently belongs to this genus, agreeing in the structure of the flower,'in the number of its stamens, and in the form of its cap- sule. The leaves are 2-2i inches long, 2-2: inches broad, with a basal sinus 3 lines deep, the petiole measuring 13-2 inches ; the peduncle is 1 inch long, the sessile bracts 6 lines long and 5 lines broad, the pedicel about 3 lines long; the sepals 1 line long ; the larger petals 5 or 6 lines iong, the shorter ones 1 or 2 lines in length; the spiral capsule is 14 inch long, and 4 lines in diameter ; it is unilocular, with numerous seeds attached to three helically longitudinal and parietal placentae.

I may here mention that the Hentxelia w e n s of Velloz (Zoc. supra citot. tab. 97) is the L o a m purvijlorcc of Schreber, and his Joasa w e m s (Zoc. cit. tab. 98) is the Blumzenbaclzicc Zatifolia of St.-Hilaire.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVIII.

Fig. 1. A portion of a plant of Gripidea scabra in flower and in seed : of the natural size. Fig. 2. One of the larger petals and a fascicle of five fertile stamens. Fig. 3. One of the smaller petals shown in three different positions, each with three dorsal setae and two

Fig. 4. The ovary surmounted by the calyx, pulvinate cap, style and stigma: magnified. Fig. 5 . The same cut open, showing the three spiral lines of parietal placentation with numerous sus-

pended ovules ; magnified. Fig. 6. One of the ovules: highly magnified. Fig. 7 . The style and stigma: much magnified. Fig. 8. A capsule, showing its mode of dehiscence : of the natural size. Fig. 9. One the spiral placentae : of the natural size. Fig. 10. The same: magnified. Fig. 11. A seed : of the natural size. Fig. 12. The same : magnified. Fig. 13. The same, with half of the outer integument removed, showing the position of the free in-

Fig. 14. The same tunic and nucleus removed. Fig. 15. The inner integument covering the albumen enclosed in the former. Fig. 16. A longitudinal section of the albumen with the embryo imbedded in it. Fig. 17. The embryo extracted :-all magnified on the same scale.

sterile stamens : all of the natural size.

termediate tunic and its enclosed nucleus.

AIR. J O H S AI1ERS OK THE LOASXCEA. 237

Fig. 18. A seed of Bartonio siim~lu, Preel, of the natural size. Fig. 19. The same, magnified; Fig. 20. The same, seen edgeways ; Fig. 21. The outer integuniental sac, cut open, with the nucleus removed ; Fig. 22. The nucleus, consisting of an inner integument covering the albumen ; Fig. 2.3. The same, seen edgeways ; Fig. 24. The inner integument removed and cut open ; Fig. 2 5 . The albumen containing the embryo; Fig. 26. The embryo extracted. All magnified on the same scale.

Fig. 27. A seed of Uluinenbachia insignia, Schrad,, of the natural size. Fig. 28. The same, magnified; Fig. 29. The outer integument cut open and removed ; Fig. 30. The intermediate integument; Fig. 31. The inner integument enclosing the albumen ; Fig. 32. A longitudinal section of the albumen, with the embryo imbedded in it; Fig. 33. The embryo extracted. All magnified on the same scale.

Fig. 34. A seed of Caiophora absinthigolia, Presl, of the natural size. Fig. 35. The same, magnified; Fig. 36. A transverse section of the same, showing the position of its wings ; Fig. 37. A longitudinal section of the same, showing the size and marking of two of the wings, the

apical strophiole, and the enclosed nucleus suspended from it. All magnified on the same scale.

Fig. 38. A portion of one of the wings, showing the rectangular areoles filled with a delicate reticulated membrane more highly magnified ;

Fig. 39. The inner integument covering the albumen ; Fig. 40. A longitudinal section of the albumen, in which the embryo is imbedded ; Fig. 41. The embryo extracted. All (except fig. 38) magnified on the same scale.

Fig. 42. A seed of Raphisanthe Ochagavia, nob., of the natural size. Fig. 43. The same, magnified. Fig. 44. A longitudinal section of the same, showing the nucleus suspended from the summit, within the

much larger space of the thick outer integument, and therefore free from it at the base : also magnified.

Fig, 45. The albumen invested by the inner integument, showing the black apical point from which it is suspended, and the small dark speck on its base : more magnified.

VOL. xxv. 2 L