as a distinct Natural Order from Myrtaceae. 87 



Pomegranate as a distinct natural order from Myrtacem, I 

 have recently been induced to examine this question, bring- 

 ing to my aid the lights thrown on carpellary arrangement by 

 my recent investigations of Cucurbit acem. (Annals, viii. 260.) 

 The result of this examination has led me to the conviction, 

 not only that GranatecB is a distinct order, but that the pome- 

 granate, if my views are correct, is, so far as our informa- 

 tion yet extends, the most remarkable fruit in the system of 

 plants. But, without further preface, I shall at once proceed 

 with the subject, introducing it by presenting a series of ex- 

 tracts from the leading disputants on either side. The whole 

 controversy turns on a simple question of fact, namely. What 

 is the structure of the ovary and fruit of Punica ? To these 

 points therefore I shall, to save room, limit my extracts. The 

 first of these, taking them in chronological order, is from 

 Mr. D. Don^s paper, ' Edin. New Philosoph. Journal ^ for July 

 1826. The second is from DeCandolle's ^Prod.,' iii. p. 3. 

 The third is from Dr. Lindley's ^ Natural System of Botany,^ 

 ed. 1st, p. 64, and repeated in the second edition, p. 43. The 

 last is from Mr. Arnotf s article Botany, ' Encycl. Brit.,^ ed. 7, 

 p. 1 10, under Myrtaceae. These extracts, by placing the ques- 

 tion before the reader in all its bearings, will enable him at 

 once to judge how far I have succeeded in setting the question 

 at rest. 



" Bacca pomiformis, limbo tubulosa dentato calycino, nunc contracto, co- 

 ronata : cortex crassissimus, extus cuticula Isevi rubicundd punctata lucida 

 vestitus, intus spongioso-carnosus, albus, dein, matura bacca, fissura irregu- 

 lariter rumpens. Placenta cortici baccae substantia simillima, at magis car- 

 nosa et succulenta baccam omnino replens, in loculis numerosis polyspermis 

 inaequalibus reticulatim atque interrupte excavata. Dissepimenia vera nulla : 

 spuria tamen adsunt, quae e substantia placentae orta, valde sunt fragilia, et 

 crassitie varia." — Don {I. c). 



** The real structure of the fruit of the pomegranate appears to 

 have been overlooked by all authors I have consulted on the sub- 

 ject, and even the distinguished Gaertner has fallen into error both 

 in his description and figure. It is in reality a fleshy receptacle, 

 formed by the tube of the calyx into a unilocular berry, filled with a 

 spongy placenta, which is hollowed out into a number of irregular 

 cells in which the seeds are placed ; the dissepiments being nothing 

 more than thin portions of the placenta. If we could conceive the 

 fruit of Rosa to be filled up with an interrupted pulpy matter, it 

 would be exactly of the same structure as the pomegranate." — Don 

 {I.e.). 



" Fructus magnus, sphaericus, calycis limbo subtubiUoso coronatus, ejus- 

 dem tubo corticatus, indehiscens, diaphragmate horizontali insequaliter bi- 

 cameratus; camera superiore 5 — 9-loculari, camera infcriore minore 3-locu- 

 lari, septis utriusque membranaceis loculos separantibus ; placentae camerae 

 superioris carnosae a parietibus ad centrum tendentes, in inferiore processus 

 irregulares ab ipso fundo."— Z)eC. (/. c). 



