DESCRIPTION OF CASTANEA CHRYSOPHYLLA. 495 
the back, the edges scarcely rough ; the bases are remarkably 
dilated so as to be 2 inches or more broad, closely imbri- 
cated, membranaceous striated, pale brown. From the axils 
of several of the outer of these leaves, arise numerous short 
stalks or branches, closely covered with imbricated bracteas 
resembling the leaves, but only 2-3 inches long, the broad 
bases bearing a large proportion to the subulate blade; and 
each of these stalks or branches bearing a single very large 
flower, longer than the upper bracteas. The perianth is of 
6 subulate sepals, as above described. These and the stamens 
and style seem to remain till the fruit is quite mature, and 
indeed long after, except that, when the three double valves 
of the capsule are burst open, they separate from the upper 
part of the style, or only carry away the base of that organ, 
There is a peculiarity in the endocarp, which is firm and 
horny, and which separates from the base, apparently elasti- 
cally, and remains attached to the apex of the valves. When 
these valves are fully expanded, the three plates of the 
dissepiment are seen in the centre, as shown at Tas. XV. 
J. 6. and the point of attachment of the seeds, as it would 
appear, is at the base of each cell. 
REFERENCES TO THE PLATES. 
Tas. XIII. XIV. Baxteria australis: nat. size; some of the longer 
leaves cut away ; and showing, among the outer leaves, the copious brac- 
teated flowering, or rather fruiting peduncles, 2 
Tas. XV. Fig. l. Flowering bracteated peduncle, f. 2. flower re- 
moved from the bracteas. f. 3. Fruit before the full bursting; but which 
is at the same time probably a representation of the pistil. f. 4. Sepal, 
or leaf of the perianth, with its stamen. f. 5. Capsule burst. f. 6. The 
same, the valves more expanded, and exhibiting the dissepiments of the 
cells, from which the valves are detached, and showing the separation of 
the endocarp of the valves from the base :—all, nat. size. 
Figure and brief description of CASTANEA CHRYSOPHYLLA 3 
by W. J. H. 
` (With a Plate—Tas. XVI.) 
Of the few species of Chestnut that are known to us, the 
