256 LT.-COL. D. PRAIN ON THE MANSONIE®, 
described in Schumann’s original species of Triplochiton, Man- 
sonia has none; the calyx in Triplochiton is regularly 5-lobed, 
in Mansonia is spathaceous; the petals in Zriplochiton are dis- 
tinctly clawed, in Mansonia are not ; the stamens of Triplochiton 
are a multiple of ten, and are inserted on a distinct ring at the 
top of the gynandrophore, those of JMansonia are ten only, 
arranged in pairs, with each pair so inserted that though, in the 
writer’s opinion, they should be deemed uniseriate, it is not 
impossible to believe that they are biseriate, while a distinct 
apical ring is not developed; the carpels of Triplochiton are 
hidden by five wide, free, hypogynous, subscarious, contorted- 
imbricate staminodia, those of Mansonia overtop, by their long 
slender styles, the five similarly free and hypogynous, but 
narrowly lanceolate, petaloid, valvate staminodia. 
These differences, though somewhat numerous, are of rather 
unequal value. The distinction as to leaves may be put aside as, 
at best, only specific; differences quite as great occur within 
large natural genera like Sterculia or Hibiscus. The distinction 
as to bracteoles does not hold even within the genus Triplochiton 
itself. The variation in number of the stamens and the 
difference in length of the styles also provide characters that at 
best are no more than specific. The more important differences 
are: that met with in the calyx, though the same difference in 
large natural genera like Hibiscus and Bauhinia is only sectional ; 
that met with in the petals, though this again, taken by itself, is 
not more than sectional; that seen in the staminal insertion, 
whieh is possibly more apparent than real; and, finally, that 
seen in the estivation of the staminodia. Since these staminodia 
supply the most striking character that is common to the two 
genera it might, under ordinary circumstances, be held that the 
differences which exist in this portion of the flower at the same 
time provide the most important distinetion between the one 
genus and the other. But mere difference in size is not in itself 
important; and the valvate disposition of the staminodia in 
Mansonia may only be due to the accident that in this genus 
these organs are so narrow that overlapping in the bud is 
unnecessary. 
On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that if a solitary 
important difference, such as that met with in the calyx, or that 
met with in the corolla, may, taken by itself, be fairly considered 
of sectional value, two such differences, taken together, may not 
