one 



ME. G. BENTHAM ON MTETACE^. 115 



would be gained bj its separation. The other two sections, with 

 alternate leaves, have both been proposed as genera. The 

 Lopliostemon, Schott, cliaracterized by the remarkably long sta- 

 mmal claws, has also the numerous ovules oi NericyplujUum^ and 

 linear-cuneate, not flattened seeds. It contains three Australian 

 species. The third section, which may be considered typical of 

 the genus, has short staminal claws, few, pendulous ovules, and 

 the seeds sometimes but not always winged. It contains 10 to 

 12 species ranging over Australia, New Caledonia, and the Indian 

 archipelago, and includes Tristaniopsis of Brongniart and Gris. 

 These distinguished botanists, whose observations on, and descrip- 

 tions of, New- Caledonian plants are most careful and accurate, 

 and whose opinions must carry great weight, insist, in a supple- 

 mentary article (Ann. Sc. Nat. Par. ser. 5, vi. 264), on the main- 

 tenance of Trisfmtiopsis, relying chiefly on the above-mentioned 

 differences in the ovules and seeds. In this instance, however, 

 we must still think that the two groups are much more appropri- 

 ately treated as sections than as genera. Although we know of 

 no genus amongst Myrtacese which contains at once species with 

 few ascending and others with few descending ovules, yet Lepto- 

 spermum and Ktmzea are examples of natural genera in which the 

 ovules, as in Tristania^ are in one section few and pendulous, and 

 in another numerous, crowded, and mostly horizontal ; so in 

 M^elaleuca they are in some species few and ascending, in others 

 numerous, crowded, and horizontal ; and in none of these cases, 

 any more than in Tristania^ do these characters mark groups which 

 we should consider sufficiently natural to be raised to the rank of 

 genera. The winged seeds o^ Tristaniopsis are not constant in the 



Australian species. 



Then follow six genera with opposite leaves, free stamens, and 

 the ovules erect or ascending, unless when very numerous and 

 borizontal — genera which might perhaps with more propriety be 

 reduced to sections of MetrosideroSy had there been sufficient 

 real advantage to compensate the disturbance of existing nomen- 

 clature. These are : — 1. Sxis'CAEPIA, Ten., two Australian species 

 now characterized by the capitate inflorescence. It was originally 

 founded by Tenore under the name of Syncarpia, and nearly at 

 the same time hv Ne^s under that of Kamntzia. for the old Me- 



connate 



Mueller 



S. leptopetala, in which the flowers are free, though capitate, and 

 the ovules solitary in each cell, and erect, which characters, with 



lilXN. PKOC. — BOTANY, VOL. X. ^ 



