130 



Bei den Familien der HeloblSB sehen wir die Bliiten alle moglicken -tufen von 

 der Achlamydie bis zxir Heterocklamydie, von der Hypogynie bis zur E igynie, von 

 unbestiramter Zakl der StaubbUtter xml Carpelle bis zu begrenzter dnrohmachen, xind 

 wegen dieser noch. groBen Unbestandigkeit lasso icb. diese Reihe den Qtumxfloroe vor- 

 angeken. Die Keihe gliedert sich in 3 Unterrt-iken, in die Potamogetoninece mit den 

 cK, Kajaulm-ea, Aponotjelon tc m und JuneruJmtMCP, in die Alismimm xmd 

 Die Trennung der letzteren kalte ich wegen der bei den Butomarew und 

 ai vorkommenden Stellxing der S'a. axif den WandfKchen der Carpelle 

 fiir notwendig. 



ENGLER'S Helobiae referred to iii the above quotation are, in my estimation, 

 a collection of heterogeneous families bounded artificially by partial relations, 

 (that is to say, bounded by this one in one case of these two families, but 

 by that one in another case of those two families). The natural relations of 

 the Helobise to the others are accordingly, even in the present state of our know- 

 ledge, very extensive. In the first place, the series is partly related to the 

 Liliiflorse and partly to the Farinosge ; the connection with the former series 

 is manifested in the Hydrocharitacese which bear some resemblance to the 

 Iridacese and Amaryllidaceffi in the inferior ovary, while the relation to the 

 latter series is exhibited also in the Hydrocharitacese which have the same 

 kind of ovary in common with the Bromeliacese and share the axillary 

 flowers, perianth and parietal placentas with the Mayacacese 15 (both of the 

 latter series). In the second place, it somewhat approaches the Spathiflorse, 

 as can be seen in the relation between Zostera and the Arace8e ?) . In the 

 third place, though it is placed far apart from the Ranales in ENGLER'S system, 

 its alliance with the latter series is incontestable, as we can see a striking 

 resemblance between the flowers of the Alismatacese and those of the Ranuu- 

 culacese , in the numerous stamens, apocarpous gynsecea, and in the habit. 

 Further, some resemblance, although very slight, is found in the Triuridales 41 , 

 in the numerous free carpels. It is also related to the Microsperm8e 5) , as the 

 Hydrocharitacese are compared with the Burmanniaceae and Orchidacese by 

 BENTHAM-HOOKER, on the ground that these families have in common the 



1) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II. 4, p. 18. 2) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II. 1, p. 291. 



3) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II. 1, p. 229 ; LOTZY, ,T. P. Vortriige iiber Botanische Stammesgesckickte, 

 III. 1, p. 625. 



4) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II. 1, p. 237. 



5) BENTHAM et HOOKEK, Genera Plantaritm HI. pp. 449 and 456. 



