296 Bibliographical Notices, 



stimulated by the sensation produced by this impudent fabrication, 

 but their researches remained for some time fruitless ; and it was re- 

 served for M. Deschamps, M. Leschenault, Dr. Horsfield, and more 

 recently Dr. Blume, to supply us with authentic information on the 

 subject. An abstract of the information thus obtained (with the ex- 

 ception of that contained in Dr. Blume's valuable dissertation, which 

 did not appear until some time after this article was written) ; and 

 a notice of some of the experiments made with the poison by Sir 

 Benjamin Brodie and others, and of its chemical analysis by MM. 

 Pelletier and Caventou, complete the history of the Antiar as here 

 given by Mr. Bennett. A few words are added on the subject of 

 the botanical affinities of the genus, together with some remarks on 

 the distinctive characters of the two species which are known to be- 

 long to it. 



Pouzolzia pentandra, described by Mr. Bennett in the succeeding 

 article, belongs to one of the generic (or probably rather subgeneric) 

 divisions of Parietaria, distinguished by M. Gaudichaud, in his 

 sketch of a classification of Urticece. The species of Pouzolzia, 

 which are numerous, are again capable of subdivision into two very 

 distinct and natural sections, dependent on the development or non- 

 development of wings on the fructiferous calyx. Of the species of 

 the winged section known to him, which are nine in number, Mr. 

 Bennett gives a synopsis, and offers some observations on those of 

 the sulcated and wingless group, and on the species indicated by 

 M. Gaudichaud. He refers to the terms employed by M. Gaudi- 

 chaud in characterizing his sections of true Urticece as indicative of 

 the belief of that author in the existence of a second point of attach- 

 ment of the ovulum at its apex ; and states that " the supposed su- 

 perior point of attachment of the ovulum has always proved, on a 

 close examination, to be merely a membranous and somewhat tubular 

 elongation of the margin of the testa surrounding the aperture, which 

 is thus placed in close and immediate contact with the base of the 

 style," and in which he has " never been able to perceive the slightest 

 trace of a vascular connexion." He also notices an oversight of Pro- 

 fessor Lindley in describing the entire family of Urticece, as having 

 the " radicle always pointing to the hilum," the contrary structure 

 being well known to exist in the great majority of the genera ; and 

 concludes by pointing out some analogical resemblances between 

 Pouzolzia, and certain genera of Polygonece and Chenopodece. 



In the article which follows, on Gunnera macrophylla, BL, Mr. 

 Bennett gives a history of the genus, and adverts to the singular va- 

 riety of errors to which it has at various times given rise, as regards 



