named Rafflbsia. 335 



the same genus* : but the branch with leaves which, though ft - 

 parately represented in the drawing, is considered as proceeding 

 from the same root, appears to me, on an examination of the 

 specimen figured, to belong to a species of Vttu : and on men- 

 tioning my supposition respecting the Great Flower to Dr. Hors- 

 field, he informed me he had observed this second species of the 

 genus also connected with leaves of a different kind, and u bicfi 

 seemed likewise to be those of a Vitis^. 



Even with all the evidence now produced, I confess I was 

 inclined, on a more minute examination of the buds of Rqfflt 'si a 

 Arnoldi, to give up the opinion of its being a parasite ; on con- 

 sidering, first, the great regularity of the reticulate base, which 

 yet, externally at least, seemed to be merely a dilatation of the 

 bark of the root : secondly, the nearly imperceptible change of 

 structure from the cortical part of the base to the bractea* in 

 contact with its upper elevated margin : thirdly, the remarkable 

 change of direction and increased ramification of the vessels of 

 the root at the point of dilatation ; a modification of structure 

 which must probably have taken place at a very early stage of its 

 growth : and lastly, on finding these vessels in some cases pene- 

 trating the base of the column itself (plate 22. /. 1.). 



But to judge of the validity of these objections, it became ne- 

 cessary to examine the nature of this connection in plants known 



* This second species may be named Rafflesia Horsfieldii, from the very meritorious 

 naturalist by whom it was discovered. At present, however, the two species are to be 

 distinguished only by the great difference in the size of their flowers ; those of the one 

 beinc nearly three feet, of the other hardly three inches in diameter. 



f Isert (in Reise nach Guinea, p. 283.) mentions a plant observed by him in equi- 

 noctial Africa, parasitic on the roots of trees, consisting, according to the very slight no- 

 tice he has given of it, almost entirely of a single flower of a red colour, which he refers 

 to the Linnean class Icosandria, and compares in appearance, I suppose in theyoun^ 

 state, to the half of a Pine-cone. It is not unlikely that this plant also may be really 

 allied to Raffiesia, the smaller species of which it probably resembles in appearance. 



VOL. XIII. 2 G to 



