448 BIBLIOGEAPHT. 



flowering. In Linaria Elatine axes are found to develop from 

 the lower leaf-axils which bury themselves beneath the surface, 

 bearing flowers imperfectly developed, but not offering any re- 

 markable structiu-al peculiarity. Fertilization takes place as in 

 ordinary flowers. 



MiEGEviLLE, l'Abbe de. — Trisetum agrostideum, Tr. in the Pyrenees. 

 Bull. Soc. Bot. viii. 448. 



MiEKS, John. — Observations on the Bignoniaceas. A. N. H. 1861. 

 Ser. 3, vol. vii. p. 153. 



A minute description is given of the structure of the seeds 

 and fruit in several genera of the Order. The former are usually 

 provided with three distinct integuments — the outermost often 

 expanding into a broad wing, showTi to be the true testa by the 

 passage through it of the raphe, — and an intermediate coriaceous 

 layer, probably a development of the secimdine, and a third, pro- 

 vided with distinct chaiaza, attributed to the tercine. In reference 

 to the carpellary structiu'e of Bignoniaceae, Mr. Miers advances 

 the hypothesis that the pistil (in EuhlgnoniecB) is composed of 

 four plicate carpellary leaves bearing ovules, not on their margins 

 but midribs, and confluent by the sterile margins and adjacent 

 faces of each pair, — thus constituting a bilocular ovary. The 

 bilobate stigma is assumed as composed of four stigmata con- 

 fluent in pairs, as, according to the author, is constant in 

 BoraginacesB, Labiatse, &c. In Catalpece, with the dissepiment of 

 the fruit transverse to its faces, a quadricarpellary origin is also 

 maintained, — the arrangement of the carpels and the placentation 

 being different. In the tribe Platycarpecc (Miers) the pistil is 

 normally bi-carpellary. Amphicoma Mr. Miers considers to belong 

 to CyrtandracsfB. A description is added of a Bignoniaceous fruit 

 (referred to Tanaecium allvftorum, DC.) in the British Museum 

 collection, remarkable from the parietal attachment of the seeds. 

 — ibid. pp. 255-268. In Crescentiaceae, Mr. Miers regards the 

 ovary as made up of two carpels, placeutiierous on their midribs 

 and conjoined by their thickened sterile margins. In Cyrian- 

 dreae, held of Ordinal rank, and Pedaliaceae, a similar structure 

 of the ovary obtains. Sesameae, having an ovary normally com- 

 posed of four carpels, placentiferous on their inflected margins 

 which form a central column, the author would exclude from 

 Bignoniales. A placenta-bearing midrib of the carpels he be- 

 lieves to be universal among Bignoniaceae, Crescentiaceae, 

 Cyrtandraceae, Pedaliaceae, and Gesneraceae. Observations upon 

 the relative position, &c. of the anther-lobes in certain genera of 

 Bignoniaceae are given. — ibid. pp. 386 to 396. An amended de- 

 scription of Adenocalymna, and descriptions of five new species. 

 — Vol. viii. pp. Ill to 120. Tanaecium is referred to Eubignonieae, 

 near to Adenocalymna. In the remodelled diagnosis of this genus 

 the ovary and fruit are descril)C(l as bi-locular. T. parasiticum., 

 Sw. is considered to be a Schlet/elia, and truly Cresceutiaceous. 



