Linncean Society, 13cJ 



all the evidence yet known respecting the order of Burmanniaceae. 

 Of the genus Dictyostega he describes three species, which he found 

 in Brazil, to which is to be added a fourth species, discovered by 

 Mr. Schomburgk in British Guiana. 

 The following are their characters : — 



DICTYOSTEGA. 

 Pertanthium tubulosum, ovario adnatum, superne liberum : Umbo 6-fido, 

 laciniis 3 alternis minoribus. Stamina 3 : Jilamentis brevissimis : an- 

 tkeree loculis disjunctis, transversim dehiscentibus. Stylus simplex. 

 Stigmata 3. Capsula 1-locularis, sub 3-valvis, polysperma, apice dehi- 

 scens : valvis medio placentiferis. Semina minuta, scobiformia, test^ 

 laxa, reticulata, pertranslucida, nucleo quintuple longiore vestita. 

 Plantse (brasilienses) rhizocarpece, radice fibrosa, squamis membranaceis, 

 imbricatiS) ciliatis, incanis tectd. Caulis erectus, subfieauosus, pallidd 

 purpurascens, subsoUtarius, rariiis ramiferus, et tunc ramis 1 — 3 

 erectis, alternis, trunco consimilibus. Folia bracteiformia, subsessilia, 

 adpressa. Inflorescentia terminalis, dichotome racemosa, vel subum- 

 bellato-cyynosa, fioribus purpiirascentibus, pedicellatis. 



1. D. orobanchioides, caule erecto simplici vel ramifero, racemis geminis, 

 floribus nutantibus unibracteatis, bracteis cum pedicellis alternantibus, 

 capsula subvalvata ecostata longitudinaliter dehiscente.— Monte Corco- 

 vado, Rio de Janeiro. 



2. D. umbellata, caule erecto simplicissimo, foliis erecto-patulis, umbelld 

 simplici 6 — 9-flora, floribus erectis, pedicellis basi bracteatis, ovario 

 ecostato. — Serra dos Orgaos, Prov. Rio de Janeiro. 



3. D. cosiata, caule erecto simplici, floribus erectis, cym& bibracteal^, pe- 

 dicellis ebracteatis, capsula evalvi 6-costata apice dehiscent! . — Rio de 

 Janeiro. 



4. D. Schomburgkii, caule erecto subsimplici, racemis geminis paucifloris, 

 floribus unibracteatis, bracteis pedicello oppositis, periantbio medio 

 baud constricto, lacii>iis obiusioribus, capsule 6-costati apice dehiscenti. 

 — Guiana. 



CYMBOCARPA. 



Perianthium tubulosum, ovario adnatum, supern^ liberum : limbo 6-fido, 

 laciniis tribus alternis minoribus. Stamina omnino Dictyostegce. 

 Stylus simplex. Stigmata 3-loba, lobis gibboso-rotundatis, cornubus 2 

 subulatis erectis instructis. Ovarium gibboso-3-gonum, 1-loculare, 

 placentis 3 parietalibus. Capsula 1-locularis, latere unico angulo su- 

 periore tantum dehiscens. Semina scobiformia, numerosissima, testa 

 reticulata nucleo vix excedente. 



Plantae (brasilienses) rkizocarpece, radice fbrosd. Caulis simplex, sub- 

 flexuosus, erectus, albescens. Folia sessilia, bracteiformia, erecta, aut 

 adpressa. Inflorescentia dichotome spicata, paucifiora, floribus fla- 

 vescenti-albidis, basi bracteatis, cum pedicellis brevissimis summo abrupte 

 declinatis geniculatis. 



1. Cymbocarpa refracta. — Monte Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro. 



