80 Mr. MiERs's Description of a new Genus of Plants from Brazil. 



of Triuris ; and the plant itself, though presenting also only bracteiform leaves, 

 is very unlike it in habit. It is deserving of notice, that the leaves of some Bu- 

 tomece offer an analogy with the sepals of Triuris in tlie remarkable foramen 

 observed in their apex. 



The texture of the membranous coat of the ovulum, viewed under a high 

 magnifying power, presents the same appearance as the epidermis of the whole 

 plant, viz. raised prominent vesicles, having in the centre of each globule or 

 cell a distinct nucleus offering that peculiar kind of texture which has been 

 pointed out by Mr. R. Brown as generally existing, though frequently less 

 perfectly developed, in all monocotyledonous plants. 



From all these considerations, it seems to me we may safely conclude that 

 Triuris belongs to the class of Endogenous plants ; and, as it cannot be di- 

 stinctly referred to any of the orders above-mentioned, it may probably be 

 taken as the type of a distinct family, holding a place between Burmanniacece 

 and Fluviales, but whose positive rank in the system cannot be known until we 

 obtain more perfect information relative to the structure of the embryo. 



EXPLANATION OF TAB. VII. 



Fig. a. Male plant of TViuris hyalina, of the natural size. A. Slightly magnified. 



1. An unopened bud. 



2. The same, seen from above. 



3. The same, artificially opened. 



4. An expanded flower, seen laterally. 



5. The same, seen from above. All slightly magnified. 



6. A section of the fleshy cone supporting the anthers, more highly magnified. 

 Fig. b. Female plant of the same, of the natural size. B. Slightly magnified. 



7. An unopened bud. 



8. The same, artificially opened. 



9. An expanded flower. 



10. The pistilla, after the removal of the perianthium. All slightly magnified. 



11. A single pistillum, more highly magnified. 



12. Cells of the epidermis of the ovulum, highly magnified. 



