18 Mr. Brown, on the Proteacee of Jussieu. 
gaged by the plants of this family, the species in that continent 
being both numerous and with difficulty reducible to established 
genera: I there observed the following facts concerning them, 
all of which I have, since my return to England, confirmed by 
the examination of different species of the same tribe. | 
The observations of Jacquin on this subject being generally 
known, it must be unnecessary to enter into a minute description 
of those organs which are well exhibited by his figures in every 
respect, except as to the origin of the supposed anthere. _ 
If a flower bud of any plant of this family, while scarcely half 
the size it attains immediately before expansion, be carefull y 
examined, it will be found that the polleniferous sacs, as they 
are termed by Jacquin and his followers, in which they suppose 
the antherze to be merely immersed, are really the organs by 
which the foecundating matter is secreted: for at this period they 
are perfectly closed, and consequently all communication cut off 
between the stigma and their contents now consisting of a turbid 
fluid or pulpy mass. If the stigma be at the same time observed, 
the gland-like bodies which originate in its grooved angles are 
already visible; but, instead of having the cartilaginous or horny 
texture which they at length acquire, are as yet semi-fluid, and 
of hardly a determinate form. Near the base of each side of 
these grooves a more superficial depression is observable, which, 
though in some cases extremely short, is in others of considerable 
length, and generally forms a right angle with the corresponding 
groove. . In these depressions, the processes by which, at a more 
advanced stage, the contents of the anther are connected with 
the stigma, are immersed, and at this period they are found to 
be semi-fluid. By degrees the glands, as well as their lateral 
processes, acquire a firmer consistence; and the inferior or outer 
extremity of each of the processes, being extended beyond its de- 
| | pression 
