22*2 Mr. Brown on the Female Flower and Fruit q/'Rafflesia Arnoldi, 



equally interesting and difficult botanical subject, and I consider them his 

 best*. 



Since the publication of my former memoir, much light has been thrown 

 on the structure and oeconomy of Raffiesia, chiefly by Dr, Blume, who in his 

 ' Flora Javse' has given a very full history of a nearly related species, his 

 Raffiesia Patma, as well as of Brugmansia, a parasite of similar oeconomy, 

 very distinct as a genus, but evidently belonging to the same natural family. 

 Before, however, noticing more particularly what has been done by others, I 

 shall resume the subject where I left it at the conclusion of my former me- 

 moir, in adverting to those points which I then regarded as the principal 

 desiderata in the botanical history of this extraordinary plant. 



The first of these related to the reticulate base, which I ventured to con- 

 sider a production of an intermediate kind, or rather as one derived from the 

 stock or root of the Vine, but excited and determined in its form and nature 

 by the specific stimulus of the parasite. I expected, therefore, to find it ex- 

 isting in the form of a covering to the bractese in the early state, as in Cytimis. 

 This point has been fully confirmed, and is well shown in Mr. Bauer's draw- 

 ings of the very young budsf. From the same figures it appears that the 

 parasite is occasionally found on the stems of the Vine, as Dr. Jack had 

 stated, but which seemed to me to require confirmation. 



* Since this paper was read, the Linnean Society have had to lament the loss of Francis Bauer, 

 who died in 1841 at the advanced age of eighty-three. Like his brother Ferdinand, he continued, till 

 ■within a short time of his death, to take the same interest in those scientific investigations which formed 

 the constant occupation and the chief pleasure of a long life. 



The figures of Rafflesia and Hydnora, which so admirably illustrate, and form the more valuable part 

 of this communication, are among the best specimens of the unrivalled talent of the two brothers Francis 

 and Ferdinand Bauer, who, as botanical painters, equally united the minute accuracy of the naturalist 

 with the skill of the artist. 



To this brief note I may be permitted to add how fortunate I consider myself in having so long en- 

 joyed the friendship and so often been indebted for the important assistance of these two distinguished 

 men, whose merits in the branch of art which they cultivated have never been equalled, and to both of 

 whom the illustrations of the present paper, so happily connected, may form an appropriate monu- 

 ment, the work of their own hands. 



t That the whole of this covering belongs to the stock, is proved by its containing those raphides or 

 acicular crystals which are so abundant in the root of the Vitis or Cissus, and which are altogether want- 

 ing in the parasite. 



