DK. CUNKIKGHAM ON THE PEEIAKTU IN PHILESIA. 477 



The variations are also clearly apparent in the speciea succiruhra 

 and calisaya. 



The object of this note is to call the attention of competent 

 botanists to these facts as being well worthy of consideration in 

 carrying out any future classification. I cannot forbear express- 

 ing a hope that they may lead to a simplification in the botanical 

 arrangement of the genus, which at present is so confused as to 



the actual living realities. 



hindrance 



On the Occurrence of Pleiota^y of the Perianth in Philesia. 



By E. O. CuNNi^HAM, M.D., F.L.S. 



[Bead April 7, 1870.] 



The recent perusal of Dr. Mastera's valuable work on * Vegetable 

 Teratology ' has induced me to bring before the notice of the 

 Members of the Linnean Society a form of monstrosity of which 

 I have met with several examples in the flower of Philesia^ a 

 genus of Smilaceous endogens, in which no instances of double 

 flowers appear to have been as yet recorded. This genus, it is 

 hardly necessary to remark, consists of but one species, the beau- 

 tiful P. buadfoUa, which occurs plentifully in the damp wooded 

 region of Fuegia and the western parts of the Strait of Magel- 

 haens, extending up the west coast of South America, at least as 

 far as Valdivia, to the north of which it is replaced by its still 

 handsome ally La^ageria rosea, which possesses a much more 

 limited range, not extending far to the north of Concepcion. 



The ordinary form of the flower of Philesia consists, as is well 

 known, of a hexaphylloua perianth, furnished at the base with 

 two or more small bracts. Of the six lacinise, the three outer, which 

 vary very much in size in individual specimens, are both shorter 

 and narrower than the inner, each of which is provided internally 

 at the base with a greenish-yellow glandular pit secreting a 

 sweet honey-like fluid. The stamens, six in number, and in- 

 serted at the base of the perianth, have their filaments united 

 into a tube for some distance upwards ; their anthers are of a linear 

 form and of a yellow colour ; and the contained pollen-grains are 

 spherical, and under a moderate magnifying-power exhibit a 

 hispid surface. Through the stamen-tube passes the elongated 



