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XXI. On the Ovulum of Santalum, Osyris, Loranthus and Viscum. 

 By William Griffith, Esq., F.L.S. ^c. S^c. 



Read January 17th; March 7th and 21st; April 4th and 18th, 1843. 



IN two papers which have been honoured by places in the Transactions of 

 the Society*, I detailed, as well as I was able, what appeared to me the most 

 striking peculiarities presented by the ovula of Santalum, Loranthus and f^is- 

 cuin ; and I was enabled to point out some novel and interesting- facts con- 

 nected with the ovulum, such as the protrusion of the embryonary sac beyond 

 the apex of the nucleus, and the formation of the embryo outside the nucleus. 

 I was also led to infer the possibility of the reduction of the ovulum to its 

 innermost coat, the embryonary sac ; and to state that the ovarium of Loran- 

 thus was solid, and that its ovulum, as well as that of Viscum, was formed 

 subsequently to the occurrence of fecundation. 



In the present attempt I have, I believe, been able to supply many of the 

 large deficiencies of the papers alluded to ; to correct, I trust, some important 

 mistakes ; and to extend my inquiries to another genus of the natural family 

 Santalacece. In extenuation of so much addition and correction to Santalum, 

 and especially to Loranthus, I consider it my duty to the Society to state that 

 the original observations on Loranthus and Viscum were made by a very 

 inexperienced observer, that those on Santalum were not only similarly defec- 

 tive, but were interrupted by severe illness, and that the manuscripts were 

 prepared during a short period between convalescence and a hurried departure 

 for Assam ; so that the papers, as they now stand in the Transactions, must 

 have been greatly cleared from obscurities and inaccuracies by the knowledge 

 and friendly care of those who honoured me by superintending their printing. 



It will be seen by referring to the sketches, that the materials from which 



* Vol. xviii. p. 59 and p. 71. 

 VOL. XIX. 2 A 



