and on various Plants related to them. " 333 



hypothesis of Dr. Lindley regarding the structure of its pistillura, and to 

 establish, perhaps, the fact that the pistillum of Punica is, at least in its early 

 stages, as definitely compound as that of Sonneratia and Duabatiga, with which 

 it appears to me to form a natural family intermediate between Lythrarieoe and 

 Myrtacece. Its anomalies, which are remarkable, may probably be explained 

 by due consideration of the empty space found in the axis of the ovarium of 

 Duabanga, and by the placentation of Pternandra. 



I believe that simplicity and precision would be attained by abandoning 

 the use of the term stigma, and by describing it as the stigmatic surface or 

 surfaces. No term is at present more frequently misapplied ; see, for instance, 

 Tacca ; and even amended descriptions, as that of Mr. Bentham* regarding 

 the stigma of Lahiatce, are not always as correct as they might be. 



Obs. III. — I am not aware whether in the original description of this plant 

 any mention is made of the repliform lines ; nor am I sure that these become 

 constantly separated. They alternate with the valves, and correspond in situ- 

 ation with the vascular bundles of the angles of the cruciform placenta of the 

 ovarium, a body very different in appearance from the rest of that organ. 



AsiPHONIA. 



Char. Gen, Perianihium sequale, rotatum, tripartitum, tubo nullo. Stamina 8-10, uni- 

 seriata (filamentis nullis). Stigma discoideum, sinuoso-lobatum. Pericarpium siliqui- 

 forme, 4-loculare, 4-valve, polyspermiim. Semina trigona, rugoso-papillosa. 



Frutex subscandens, facie Piperis fruticosa cujusdam, articulis tumidis. Folia venatione 



melastomaceo-piperoided, Corymbus terminalis. Spiels paucifloris ; floribus sursiim 



secundis, bibracteolatis. 



AsiPHONIA PIPERIFORMIS. 



Descb. Frutex vagus, subscandens, odore piperaceo. Rami artlculati, ad articulos in- 

 crassati. Folia alterna, vel distiche subpatentia, vel saepius subpendula, breve petiolata, 

 e basi ovata vel subcordata oblonga, acuminatissima, Integra, subtus pubescentia, basi 

 5-venia ; venae 2 laterales evanidse, cum lateralibus exterioribus venarum intermediarum 

 cito confluentes : 2 intermediae apicem versus cum secundariis venae primariae (costae) 

 arcuato-anastomosantes : interveniae caeteriim transverse venulosae, interstitiis reticulatis. 

 Inflorescentia cymoso-corymbosa, terminalis et ex axilla folii ultimi, Spicae incrassatae. 

 Flores subspicati, sursiim subsecundi, erecti, inconspicui, initio viridescentes, demum 



* Lindley, Introd. Nat. Syst. p. 196. 



