205 



and in the presence of albumen, it is very near the Passifloraceas ; but in 

 the gamophyllous corolla, it approaches the Cucurbitacese. 



207 Caricaceae : In the structure of their ovaries, the Caricacea3 are 

 closely related to the Passifloraceas ; but in the structure of the ovules, they 

 are related to the Cucurbitaceaa (VAN TIEGHEM). 



208 Loasaceae 2) : DE CANDOLLE refers this family to the Calyciflorse on 

 account of the rudiments of the stamens, and places it near the Oeuotheraceae 

 and Portulacacea? ; at the same time, he gives as the near kin of the Loasa- 

 ceae the Passifloracege and Tumeracere on one side, and the Papaveraceas and 

 Cucurbitacefe on the other. BENTHAM-HOOKER regard the Loasaceae as a re- 

 lation of the Begoniacea?, Cucurbitacese and Dipsacacea?, while EICHLEE finds 

 in the Loasaceea a type midway between the Passifloracea? and the Myrti- 

 flora?. LINDLEY, however, affirms its relation to the Cactacea?. It is also near 

 the Turneracea?. At any rate, it cannot be denied that there exist many 

 poiuts of resemblance between the Loasacea? and the Begoniacea?, especially 

 in the structure of the seeds. 



209 Datiscaceae : : Tlu's family was at one time placed close to the 

 Saxifragacea?, but at another, near the Cucurbitacea?. BAILLON regards it as 

 a transitional form between the Piperacea? and the Urticacene. LIXDLEY, and 

 BENTH.-HOOKER put the Datiscaceaa near the Begouiacea?, while DE CANDOLLE 

 brings the famil}' close to the Loasacea?. Its intimate relation to the Bego- 

 niaceee is particularl}" refen-ed to in the following Hues. 



210 Begoniaceas 4) : These are closely connected with the Datiscacea?, as 

 can be seen in the inferior ovary, in the manner of the deliiscence of the fruit 

 and in the shape and structure of the seeds and seedlings. On the other hand, 

 the intimate relation between the Bfgoniaceas and the Cucurbitacese is incon- 

 testable, as both families agree perfectly in the unisexual flowers, in the in- 

 ferior ovaries, in the connate stamens, in the cystolith, in the shape and 

 nerves of the leaves, in the placentas, and in the seeds. The Saxifragacese 

 may be regarded as kin of the Begoniacea?, as the two families agree in the 



1) 1. c. III. 6, a, p. 98 ; Nuclitr. III. p. 235. 



2) 1. c. III. 6, n, p. 106. 



3) Nat. Pfl.-fani. III. 6, a, p. 152. 4) Nat. Pfl.-fam. III. 6, a, p. 133. 



