138 Mr. Brown’s Observations on the 
nexion of anthere; in the absence of the partial involucrum ; 
and in having alternate leaves. 
In adopting M. Decandolle's description of Dipsacee*, they 
would differ also in the important character of *ovarium inferum." 
This distinction, however, is neither universal, nor I believe abso- 
lute in any case. x j 
M. Auguste Saint Hilaire in his excellent Memoir on Primula- 
cee t, while he admits the correctness of M. Decandolle's account 
with respect to great part of Dipsaceæ, has at the same time well 
observed, that in several species of Scabiosa the ovarium is entirely 
united with the tube of the calyx. But neither of these authors 
has remarked the curious, and I believe peculiar, circumstance, of 
the base of the style cohering with the narrow apex of the tube of 
the calyx, even in those species of the order in which the dilated 
part of the tube is entirely distinct from the ovarium. 
“This kind of partial cohesion between pistillum and calyx is - 
directly opposite to what usually takes place, namely, the base of 
the ovarium being coherent, while its upper part is distinct. It 
equally, however, determines the apparent origin or insertion of 
corolla and stamina, producing the unexpected combination of 
* flos superus” with ** ovarium liberum." 
In the vascular structure of the corolla Boopidee may be con- 
sidered as essentially agreeing with Composite, in many of whose 
genera the middle nerves of the tube and segments are equally 
manifest. In stating the character derived from this source in 
either of these orders, it is not sufficient to describe the nerves of 
the laciniæ only as M. Mirbel has done in his character of Com- 
posite}, and M. Cassini in that of Boopideæ : but it is also neces- 
* Flor. Frane: o ed. vol. iv. p. Et. + Mem. du Mus. d’Hist, Natur. ii, p. 47. 
f Elemens de Physiol, Veget. et de Botan. ii. p. 885. | 
sary 
