66 MR. BENTHAM'8 SYNOPSIS OF LEGNOTIDE E, 
opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules, their valvate calyx, and 
in many respects in the general arrangement of the parts of the 
flower; but differ in inflorescence, in the estivation of the petals, 
in the more complete consolidation of the styles (although in 
the latter respect they agree with Broussaisia), and in the pen- 
dulous collateral or clustered ovules. With Lythracee they agree 
more generally in habit and inflorescence, in the sstivation of the 
calyx, and completely consolidated styles; and where the ovary is 
free, it is often enclosed in the base of the calyx, as in Lythracee ; 
they differ, however, in their dotted leaves, interpetiolar stipules, in 
the sstivation of the petals and insertion of the ovules, and in 
their, albuminous seeds. The arrangement of the petals and 
stamens is also somewhat different, even in the genera which have 
the ovary free, asin Lythracez. Inthe latter order, the disk which 
bears the petals and stamens is so completely combined with the 
calyx-tube as scarcely to thicken it, or form any perceptible border 
at its edge, where the petals are inserted close among the calyx- 
teeth, and the stamens are usually inserted more or less irregularly 
lower down on the inner face of the disk. In Legnotidea, the disk, 
whether very short in the base of the calyx-tube, or lining the 
tube up to the teeth or lobes, is always very perceptible, and 
sometimes thick and fleshy ; its margin is usually more or less pro- 
minent, either as an entire or crenate ring, or as a short cup-shaped 
tube round the ovary ; the stamens are usually inserted either on 
the margin, or more frequently just below the margin on the 
outside, and the petals outside the stamens at the base of the disk, 
that is, in the angle which the free part of the disk makes with 
the calyx-tube. It is probably this disk which induced Dr. Wallich 
originally to consider the Gynotroches as a species of Microtropis 
among Celastrinec. 
The fringed and folded petals of most Legnotidee have perhaps 
some analogy to the crumpled petals of Lyfhracee ; the manner 
in which they are folded over the larger stamens, or over all the 
anthers, has some analogy to the hooded petals of Rhamnacee, 
which enclose the anthers in the bud; but there is very little 
other affinity with that order. So the opposite dotted leaves or 
the inflorescence give a general resemblance, without much affinity, 
to Myrtacee and Memecylea. 
The fringed petals of Gardner’s Anstrutheria had induced him 
to refer that plant to Eleocarpec ; but that and the valvate calyx 
are almost the only characters in which the Legnotidee coincide 
with that tribe ; still less can I see any affinity between. Legnotidea 
