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MR. J. MIERS ON THE AUXEMMEZ. 
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2. SACELLIUM. 
This genus was established in 1808, by Bonpland, in the * Plantee Hquinoctiales,’ where 
there is an imperfect description and a drawing of the typical plant. From the few 
particulars known of it, there can be no doubt that the genus closely approximates to 
Auxemma, agreeing with it in its enlarged inflated calyx enclosing a small monopyrenous 
drupe, with a 4-celled nut of similar structure. On account of the extreme difference in 
the appearance of the flower in its early and later stages, Bonpland erroneously concluded 
that the inflorescence was monecious, bearing male and female flowers in the same 
panicle; but his evidence does not support this conclusion. Bonpland, who has no high 
claim as an observing botanist, confesses that such details of the floral structure he 
owes to Humboldt, who made the drawing above referred to. Kunth, 17 years later, 
examined Humboldt’s specimen, which had no flowers, and he had only the original 
sketch of the latter to guide him. In regard to the fruit, he ascertained that its nut had 
4 seminiferous cells in its summit ; and he noted the existenee of the inferior cavities 
figured by Humboldt, in which he found no trace of seeds. Judging by analogy, we have 
here, therefore, precisely the same structure as that I have described in Ausemma. Upon 
these materials а reformed generic character is constructed in the following manner :— 
SACELLIUM, Humb. & Bonpl. 
Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx primum parvus, tubulosus, 5-dentatus, persistens et in fructu magnopere 
augescens. Corolla brevissime tubulosa, fere ad basin 5-fida, laciniis oblongis. Stamina 5, imo 
tubi affixa, brevia, subinclusa. Ovarium superum, disco hypogyno crassiusculo insitum, 4-loculare, 
loculis l-ovulatis; stylus bis bifidus; stigmata 4, parva. Calyx fructifer maxime auctus, oblongus, 
vesiceformis, submembranaceus, 5-plicatus, angulis nervosis in dentibus 5 parvis os stringentibus 
terminatus: drupa quater brevior, inclusa, oblonga, nitida, disco stipitata, stylo longe apiculata, 
monopyrena; pyren ovatus, rostratus, osseus, summo 4-locularis, imo in cruribus 4 protensus, inter- 
stitiis et centro cavato medulla repletis, loculos alteros fingentibus. Semina in quoque loculo solitaria, 
conice ovata, erecta: integumenta alba, tenuissima ; embryo exalbuminosus, atropus; radicula parva 
supera, obtusa; cotyledones 2, magne, pluriseriatim longitudinaliter plicate. 
Arbuscula Peruviana, frondosa : folia alterna, lanceolata, petiolata: panicula supraazillaris, dichotome 
ramosa; flores minimi, ^ 
1. SACELLIUM LANCEOLATUM, Humb. & Вопр. РІ. Aquin. i. 47, tab. 18; Lam. Dict. Suppl. 
v. 10, tab. 995; H., B. & К. vii. 207; DC. Prodr. ix. 502: arbuscula ramosissima, 
foliis lanceolatis, utrinque acutis, summum versus remote dentatis, submembranaceis, 
nervoso-retieulatis, supra hirtellis, subtus pallidioribus, molliter pubescentibus, costa 
nervisque prominulis; petiolo tereti, canaliculato, pubescente, limbo 15-18р10 bre- 
viore : panicula supraaxillari, folio ter breviore, dichotome ramosa, pubescente ; 
floribus parvis, subcrebris, brevissime pedicellatis; calyce fructifero valde aucto, 
acute ovato, reticulato-nervoso, membranaceo, pentagono, 5-plicato: drupa 6plo 
breviore ovata, rostrata: eset. ut in char. gen. In Peruvia alta, ad uid Те 
bamba prope охаш (non vidi). | 
This is described as a tree 9-12 feet high, with a copiously frondose taka: and a trunk 
with white wood, 1 foot in diameter. The axils are about 2 in. apart; the leaves are 
SECOND SERIES.— BOTANY, VOL. I. E | 
