named \\ \ r v l f s r a . 219 



Asarina, especially Aristolochia grand/flora. :nu\ by tin thickening 

 or annular projection of the faux in the same plant, as well as in 

 a new species of Bragantia discovered in .lava by I )r. I [orsfield. 



It may also be noticed in support of it, that some of the largest 

 flowers which were known before the discovery of Rajjlcsia belonu 

 to Asarince, as those of Aristolochia grandiflora, and particularly 

 Aristolochia cordiflora of Mutis, which, according to M. Bon- 

 pland, are sixteen inches in diameter, or nearly lialt' that of our 

 plant*. 



The first objection that occurs to this approximation is the ter- 

 nary division of the perianthiiun in the regular flowered genera 

 of A sarina, opposed to its quinary division in Rafflesia: but in 

 Cytinm it is divided into four tegmenta, a number more gene- 

 rally connected in natural families with five than with three. 



A second objection would exist, if it be considered more pro- 

 bable that the ovarium of Rafflesia is superior, or free, than in- 

 ferior, or cohering with the tube of the perianthium. 



There is indeed nothing in the structure of the column itself 

 indicating the particular position of the ovarium. J Jut if it be 

 admitted, that a base of a form equally calculated for support 

 should exist in the female flower, as is found in the male, it might 

 perhaps be considered somewhat more probable that such a base 

 should be connected with a superior than with an inferior ovarium. 



Even admitting this objection, however, it would be consider- 

 ably weakened, on the one hand, by allowing that Nepenthes, 

 which has a superior ovarium, is related to Asarince, as I am in- 

 clined to believe; and on the other, by considering Homalina, 

 whose ovarium is inferior, as allied to Passifiorea, the order with 

 which I shall now proceed to compare Rafflesia. 



This comparison is suggested by the obvious resemblance be- 

 tween the perianthium of our genus, and that of certain species 



* Humboldt Bonpl. et Ktt/itk Nov. Gen. et Sf. ii. p- 1 !$■ 



( > 1 2 of 



