210 Mr. Brown's Account of a new Genus of Plants; 



proportion of vessels. The cells or utriculi are nearly sphserical, 

 slightly angular from mutual pressure, and, in the specimens 

 examined at least, easily separable from each other without la- 

 ceration. I have not been able to detect perforations on any 

 part of their surface ; but extremely minute granules, originally 

 contained in great abundance in the cells, and frequently found 

 adhering to their parietes, may readily be mistaken for pores. 



The structure of vessels either in the column, perianthium or 

 bractesc, in all of which they are apparently similar, has not been 

 satisfactorily ascertained. They may be supposed to approach 

 most nearly to the ligneous, though certainly unaccompanied by 

 spiral vessels, which do not appear to exist in any part of the 

 plant. 



The same internal structure is continued below the origin of 

 the bractese, down to the line at which the vessels of the root ap- 

 pear to terminate, and where an evident change takes place 

 (plate 20. and 22. /. 1.). 



The Perianthium and Bractece in their cellular texture very 

 nearly agree with the column, except that in their more foliaceous 

 parts the cells are considerably elongated. 



I have not found in any part of their surface, or in that of the 

 column, those areolae universally considered as cuticular pores, 

 and which, though of very general occurrence, do not perhaps 

 exist in the imperfectly developed leaves of plants parasitic on 

 roots. 



In the external composition of the column, the part most de- 

 serving of attention is the Anthera ; for in apparent origin, as well 

 as in form and structure, it presents the most singular modifica- 

 tion of stamen that has yet been observed. 



It appears to me of importance to inquire into the real relation 

 which so remarkable a structure bears to the more ordinary states 

 of Anthera. 



A satis- 



