187 



broken up into many families. But, if we put the latter character aside, 

 it will stand as one family ; for the female flowers and ovaries, different as 

 they are in different genera, show transitions so gradual that they ma}- be 

 connected one with another. Some genera of this family have flowers which 

 .ire comparable with those of the Halorrhagacete. But the greater number 

 of the genera suggest their connection with the Santalacere. 



Series XXVI. Aristolochialcs 



73 Aristolochiaceae : If we set store by the presence or absence of a 

 reduced calyx, then Asarum and Aristolochia should not be incorporated in 

 one and the same family. Aristolochia should come close to the Tubiflorae. 

 But in other respects, the two genera are veiy closely related. In the sermn- 

 reaction the family is related with the Nymphseacese and the Anonace?e'\ 



74 RafflesiaceaB : Near the Aristolochiaceoe in the simple perianth and in 

 the central genital column. HALLIER states that this family together with the 

 Hydnoracese may be kin of the Nepenthacea?, Anonacere and Nymphaeacese in 

 the fleshy perianth, column, large peltate stigmata, semi-inferior ovary, trimer- 

 ous perigou, and in the perisperm 3) . 



75 Hy dnoraceae : As above. 



Series XXVII. I'o1i/gon1cs 



76 Polygonaceae 5) : Near the Ainarautacere. 



Series XXVIII. Ccntrospcnmr 



77 Chenopodiaceae '' } Connected with the Aniarantacea?, Phy tolaccacese, 

 Portulacacese, Aizoaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Nyctaginacete in each case by a 

 different character. As to the genera of tins family, they do not stand in a 

 serial relation, and consequently it is altogether impossible to arrange them 

 according to their lineage. The same is true of all families and especially of 

 the larger ones such as the Graminea?, Cruciferse or Rosaces. VOLKEN'S 

 opinion as to the classification of the Chenopodiaceoe demands consideration. 

 He says : " Ob mail z. B. die Polycnemeae zu den Amarautaceae oder den 



1) Knt. Pfl.-fam. p. in. 1, p. 270. 2) UEZ, C. and LANGE, L. 1. c. 



3) SOMLS-LAXJBACH, Eafflesiacete, in das Pflanzenreich, IV. 75. p. 7. 



4) 1. c. in. 1, p. 285. 5) Nat. Pfl.-fam. III. 1, a, p. 8. 

 6) 1. c. III.-1, a , p. 51. 



