natural Family of Plants. called Composite. 9t 
the-single ovulum is inserted at the base of thecavity., Proteacex, 
however, exhibit a series of obliterations in the parts of a single 
pistillum only. An illustration more in point, though somewhat 
-less perfect as a series; may be taken from Goodenovie, an order 
of plants very nearly related to the-class of. which. we are treat- 
ing. In the greater part of: Goodenovie, the ovarium is-bilocular, 
each cell having an indefinite: number-of seeds; in the greater 
number of Scævole, each cell. is: reduced to: a. single evulum ; 
d in some species of the same genus; and in albthe species ot 
Dampiera, the ovarium, though retaining: its-external pes 
is reduced to a single monospermous»cell, with an-erect ovulum, 
as in Composite. The anadas exhibits a 
obliterations, more obviously analogous .to: those <tc as 
taking place in syugeuesious plants; namely from a bilocular ova- 
rium with two polyspermous parietal. placentze, which is the 
usual structure of the order, to that of Isatis, where a single ovu- 
lum is pendulous from the apex of the unilocular ovarium. And 
lastly in the genus. Bocconia, in the original species of which 
(B. frutescens) the insertion of the single erect ovulum has the same 
relation to its parietal placente, as that of Composite has to its 
filiform cords, a second species (B. cordata) exists in inch ss 
placentæ are polyspermous. 
- My sixth observation on Composite daanin 
the florets expand. To understand the relation this order has to 
that of other families, it may be necessary first to- D a — res 
marks on the more usual modes of inflorescence. - ET 
It is well known that in an absolutely simple piks the expan- 
sion of the flowers is ascendent; that is, begins ‘at the base of the 
spike and proceeds regularly upwards. To this order very few 
real exceptions occur, several of the apparent deviations. being 
connected with some degree of composition in the spike. 1 
N 2 In 
