226 Mr. Brown's Account of a new Genus of Plants, 



to be parasitic on roots ; in those especially, which in several 

 other respects resemble Rafflesia, as Cytinus, Aphyteia, Cynomo- 

 rium, and Balanophora. On this subject I cannot find that a 

 single observation has hitherto been made, at least with respect 

 to the genera now mentioned. Sufficient materials, indeed, for 

 such an investigation are hardly to be expected in collections, 

 in which the parasite is most frequently separated from the 

 root ; and even when found in connection with it, is generally 

 in a state too far advanced to afford the desired information. I 

 consider myself fortunate, therefore, in having obtained speci- 

 mens of several species where the union is preserved ; and the 

 result of the examination of these, though not completely satis- 

 factory, has been to lead me back to my first opinion, namely, 

 that the Great Flower is really a parasite, and that the root on 

 which it is found probably belongs to a species of Vitis. 



An account of some of the more remarkable of this class of 

 parasitic plants, to which a few years ago I had paid particular 

 attention, may hereafter form the subject of a separate communi- 

 cation. At present I shall confine myself to such general observa- 

 tions on the class as relate to the question respecting Rafflesia. 



In the first place, plants parasitic on roots are chiefly distin- 

 guishable by the imperfect development of their leaves, and the 

 entire absence of green colour ; an observation which, as applvinc 

 to the whole tribe, was I believe originally made by Linnaeus*. 

 In both these points they agree with Rafflesia. 



A second observation which may be made respecting them is 

 that their seeds are small, and their Embryo not only minute, but 

 apparently imperfectly developed ; in some cases being absolutely 

 undivided, and probably acotyledonous, even in plants which, 

 from their other characters, are referable to dicotyledonous, or 

 at least to monocotyledonous families. 



* Fungus Melitensis, p. 3. Amain. Acad. iv. p. 353. 



In 



