212 URANDRA, A NEW GENUS OF OLACACER. 
the size and shape of their leaves, T suspect they furnish the materials 
of the four described by Mr. Miers in the ‘Annals of Natural History, 
ser. 2, vol. x., as growing in Ceylon. I have carefully examined ripe 
seeds of what I take to be the Gomphandra polymorpha, W. et Arn., 
and have not been able to discover the large thin cotyledons which 
Mr. Miers* states he found present in the single specimen he dissected. 
According to my analysis, the albumen is divided longitudinally into 
two subequal portions by the intervention of a loose cellular stratum, 
whose margin nearly reaches on every side to the testa, or rather to a 
whitish raised line, which is very conspicuous on the outside of the 
seed, passing quite round it lengthwise, and consisting of a fillet of 
spiral vessels lying between the two thin coats or layers of the testa. 
The loose cellular stratum is organically connected with the albumen ; 
its cells being a continuation of those of the albumen, and differing 
from them principally in containing no amylaceous granules. The cells 
of the albumen are arranged in lines radiating from the central loose 
tissue to the periphery of the seed. The orthotropous roundish em- 
bryo, which is very minute, lies close underneath the hilum, within a 
somewhat dilated portion of the loose cellular tissue above deseribed ; 
the cotyledons are exceedingly small. Before maturity the embryo 15 
"attached by a suspensor to the foramen. 
The same eminent botanist (Mr. Miers) describes, in the work above 
quoted, vol. ix. p. 396, three species of Mappia, Jacq. (Stemonurus, R. 
-W.),asindigenous to Ceylon. I have collected specimens from a variety 
of localities at different elevations and can discover no satisfactory spe 
cific distinction between them, but merely such differences as may be — 
considered due to climatal influence. The specimens from the hills are 
more robust, with thicker leaves and larger flowers, whilst those from 
| low country have thin flaccid leaves, varying greatly in size, and 
small flowers, narrow when in bud. Intermediate forms however occur, 
showing the above to be merely varieties of one species. A similar 
variation, resulting from difference of climate, exhibits itself in Turpin? 
Eurya, Bhesa (Kurrimia, Arn.), Eleodendron and other genera, consti- 
tuting probably sub-permanent varieties; but it surely is not expedient 
) exalt such varieties into species. 
* Annals of- Natural History, ser. 2, vol. x. p. 31. 
