210 SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF MITRASTEMON. 



special family for the plant. I am, therefore, at present, strongly inclined 

 to refer this plant to the Rafflesiacese. In so doing, however, it is neces- 

 sary to broaden the definition formerly given to the Rafflesiacese (SoLMS- 

 LAUBACH I., p. 1 ; ENGLER-GILG, p. 176) so far as to note that the family 

 rarely has a superior ovary, or mitraformed united stamens. 



That being done, the question arises, to what tribe of the same family 

 should Mitrastemon be referred. There are, at present, three tribes, i.e. 

 Rafflesiece, Apodanthese, Cytinieee (SoLMS-LAUBACH I.). The present 

 plant comes nearest to Apo dan these in the shape of its perianth, ovary 

 and stigma, but differs in having mitriformed united stamens and an entire- 

 ly superior ovary. After considering the extent of the differences which 

 separate above mentioned three tribes from one another and the points in 

 which this plant differs from all the tribes at present known, I am driven 

 to the conviction that it would be better to make a special tribe for it, as 

 was once suggested by T. MAKING, and to place it next to Apodan these. 

 It is to be granted that one might refer this plant to the Apo dan these 

 (SoLMS-LAUBACH I., p. 8 and 12) by greatly changing the definition of that 

 tribe. The difference between this plant and Apodaii these is, however, 

 sufficiently great to make it not unworthy of a special tribe of its own. 



The relation of this newly established tribe to the other three, is shown 

 below. Here, so far as is possible, I have followed SOLM'S system as to the 

 arrangement and definition of the tribes (SoLMS-LAUBACH I., p. 8.). 



A. Germen floris ferninei et hermaphroditi irregulariter lacunosum 

 inferius, ovulis ad lacunarum parietes numerosis hemianatropis, 

 integumento unico. Columna apice dilatata autheras infra mar- 

 ginem gerens. Tribus I. Rafflesiese. 



B. Germen floris feminei uniloculare, placentatione parietali. inferius 

 vel superius. 



a Ovula ad parietem germinis sessilia stipitata anatropa, 

 integumentis binis instructa. Antherse bi-tri-verticillatse, 

 poro apicali transverse dehiscentes ; germen inferius. 



Tribus II. Apodanthese. 



