some doubt is entertained whether it belongs to Sol 



Scrophularineae 



therefore, take the liberty of 



offering a remark or two upon this subject. 



The general mode of distinguishing Solaneae from 

 Scrophularineae is by the very obscure character of the 



curved embryo of the forme 



It is true that Dr. B 



adds to this a plaited corolla, and stamens equal in number 

 to the segments of the corolla and calyx ; but it is plain that 

 he considers these less absolute than the curved embryo, 

 because he admits such plants as Anthocercis, which has 

 didynamous stamens and an imbricated corolla, placing 

 them indeed in a distinct section, but still referring them 



to Solaneae 



D 



Bartling, in h 



valuable work on the 



Natural Orders of Plants, does not adopt this 



attaches 



a subordinate importan 



view, but 

 to the form of 



embryo, and makes the distinction between the two orders 

 depend upon the plaited corolla and symmetrical flowers ot 



Solaneae, as contrasted with the 

 dynamous flowers of Solaneae 



Dr. B 



opin 



as we 



bricated corolla and 

 Dr. Hooker adopts 



the 



have also ourselves in 



Introduction to the Natural System of Botany ; and Mr 

 Arnott does the same, but with some misgiving 



being right 



In our latest work upon such subjects the 



Nixus Plantarum 



have followed D 



doning 



former view of the matter 



Bartling, aban 

 We trust we may 



be permitted to explain wherefo 

 There can be only one reason for such a character as 

 the curved embryo being adopted as an absolute distinc- 

 tion between two nearly allied orders, in preference to all 

 others, and that must be its uniformly accompanying other 

 essential points of structure. How far th>s is the case wdl 

 be apparent from two or three plants allied to that now 



under consideration. In Petunia ^ff^SLl^bSi 

 the common curved and twisted embryo £ S ™^' V 

 Petunia violacea the seeds of which cannot externally be 



distinguished from those of the latter, not even when 



ft 



u.snea irom inoje u -— -j, microscope , the 



side by side upon the neld «"» ' h t it 



mbryo is perfectly straight, and much shorter 



jenecuy «™ ^ «, """ jg c imp0 rtance in this 

 o be of no more than specif ? , , 



— , ... Salpiglonis straminea the «*« >*££*£! 

 partly spiral f yet in all other characters the genus agrees 



appear 

 case ; 





