a new Natural Order. 407 



would be the posterior one which should alternate with the two posterior 

 petals, and of course be intermediate between the two posterior and connate 

 stamens. Now the position thus theoretically assigned to the wanting sta- 

 men is almost practically ascertained by the fact of a small tooth or short 

 filament being found in the place just mentioned. To sum up then, the struc- 

 ture, apparently so anomalous, of the flowers of Melianthus, we may use the 

 following formula : — " Calyx deeply cut into five unequal segments. Poste- 

 rior segment cowl-shaped, short; anterior ones large, ovate-oblong; lateral 

 ones broadly-linear, shorter than the anterior. Petals five, comparatively 

 small, alternate with the calycine segments ; inferior one more or less abor- 

 tive, distant from the others ; lateral and posterior ones converging towards 

 the cowl-like sepal and connected together by the woolly margins of the 

 apex of their claws. Disc incomplete, horseshoe-shaped, and at the same 

 time concave, with its aperture turned towards the ovarium and the inferior 

 (apparently superior) side of the flower, interposed between the two posterior 

 stamens and the two posterior petals. Stamens (normally 5) hypogynous, 

 alternate with the petals : the posterior one always abortive, occasionally 

 represented by a short sterile filament ; the inferior ones free, the interme- 

 diate or lateral ones more or less connected at their base. Ovarium four- 

 celled, its cells alternating with the stamens." If to these floral characters 

 we add an awl-shaped style, with four small stigmatic toothlets ; four ovules 

 inserted in two rows above the middle of the internal angle of each cell ; a 

 membranaceous, inflated, almost tetrapterous, four-lobed capsule, the carpels 

 of which open along the obliquely-internal suture of their superior lobe; and 

 lastly several seeds (generally two in each carpel), horizontal or ascending, 

 anatropous, with a hard shining testa, a large somewhat horny albumen, a 

 narrow, straight embryo with a claviform radicula longer than the plano- 

 convex cotyledons ; — in recapitulating, I say, all these characters and com- 

 bining them with those of general habit, vegetation, foliation and properties 

 already mentioned, we shall have a comprehensive idea of the leading features 

 of Melianthus, — a sketch sufficient at least to guide us in the search of the affi- 

 nities of that singular genus. 



Thus, if we find shrubby plants with pinnate leaves, winged, or at least 

 marginated petioles, intrapetiolar and connate stipules, simple racemes, and 



VOL. XX. 3 H 



