and on a new Genus of the Family Balanophorese. 99 



pear to me to be, the extraordinary simplicity of the female flowers, and the 

 remarkable productions of the surface of the spike on which they are ar- 

 ranged. 



From not having observed any change in the numerous pistilla (previously to 

 examining Bal. polyandra and Bal.picta), although the browning of the style, 

 and in some cases adherence of pollen-grains to it, had been distinctly seen, 

 doubts had suggested themselves to me regarding the true nature of the above 

 parts ; and these were increased by examinations at very early periods, which 

 did not present any state of the (subsequent) pistilla at all analogous to what 

 occurs perhaps universally in Phaenogamous Angiospermous plants ; and also 

 by the permanence and evident importance of the termination of the remark- 

 able receptacles. The same apparent imperfection of the female flowers ap- 

 pears to have struck most observers* ; and prior to the determination of the 

 point by the examination of the two species alluded to, I was inclined perhaps 

 to consider this remarkable genus as presenting, at least in the specimens 

 before me, an instance of abortion of pistilla, connected with a remarkable 

 gemmiform apparatus. 



The resemblance of the pistilla to the pistilla of Musci, and more especially 

 to those of some evaginulate Hepaticce, is exceedingly curious and complete ; 

 and the same may be said of the effects produced by the action of the pollen 

 on the styles. Indeed, in the development of the female organ, the continuous 

 surface of the style before fecundation, and its obvious perforation afterf, 

 Balanophora presents a direct affinity to a group of plants, with which other 

 wise it has not a single analogy. 



If these highly remarkable points of structure are borne in mind, I think 

 that it must be conceded that Balanophora can in no wise be associated with 

 such highly-developed families as Rafflesiaceoe and Cytinece, which, especially 

 the former, are in my opinion to be taken as exhibiting a highly complex 

 formation of even both sexes. 



* See Amott's characters in Hooker's Icon. PL, loc. cit. &c. 



t In Bal. {Polyplethia) polyandra it is not uncommon to find grains much like the poUen-grains, 

 and nearly of the same size, adhering to the style. Generally I have observed them adhering to it a 

 little below the apex. The discoloration and lengthened maceration hindered me from tracing them 

 down the canal of the style, which in this species was rarely observed to present so wide a separation 

 or laceration of the parts forming its extreme apex as in the other species. 



02 



