180 Mr. J. Miers on the Affinities of the Olacacese. 



After reviewing all that is here advanced, in regard to the 

 affinities of the Olacacem, it is satisfactory to know that the con- 

 clusions to which my own observations have led me have been 

 in great measure already anticipated by the inferences of such 

 distinguished botanists : it is therefore with more confidence that 

 I now repeat the suggestion proposed some time ago (huj. op. vii. 

 p. 207), of uniting the several families distinguished by the cha- 

 racters there indicated into a distinct class (Cionospermce) , the 

 place which it should occupy in the system having been already 

 made obvious. If we look to the development of the reproduc- 

 tive organs in plants as a main element in the foundation upon 

 which every natural method of classification should be based, 

 then the arguments before adduced on this head ought to be 

 considered with all the weight due to them (ante p. 166). I have 

 there pointed out what appears to be the normal construction of 

 the carpels in this group of families, and the sources from which 

 the placenta? and ovules spring, and have again contrasted this 

 with the normal structure of other classes of the system, the 

 clear inference being, that the Cionospermce should range in the 

 Thalamiflora, between Poly earpiece and Rhceades (ante p. 166). 

 Whatever may be conceded on this point as regards Olacacece, 

 it may perhaps be objected, that a position so high in the scale 

 is not compatible with the Santalacecs, generally placed in a far 

 lower grade ; but if we consider the usual floral parts to be there 

 existing and perfect, as we must admit from analogy, although 

 but sparingly developed, this cannot be urged as a sufficient 

 reason against the admission of that family into such a position, 

 especially when no objections have been urged against the station 

 assigned to the Menispermacece, placed in the midst of other 

 families possessed of an unusually high extent of development in 

 its floral parts, merely because its petals are reduced to the size 

 of minute scales and its flowers very diminutive and dioecious. 

 Neither did DeCandolle hesitate to arrange the Myristicacece in 

 a similar position, although they have small dioecious flowers, 

 with a simple perigonium ; nor have any obstacles been raised 

 against such a position by other botanists upon this score alone. 

 Another objection may be urged, that in Santalacece the seed is 

 often naked*, that is, deficient of any testa or integuments ; but 

 this is perhaps not always so, and its occurrence here, as we 



* I do not use this term in the meaning employed by Linnaeus, for seeds 

 developed upon a gynophorus, such as Labiatce, &c. ; nor as used by Mr. 

 Brown, to denote the seeds of Conifera, Cycadece, &c., in which sense it is 

 now generally understood ; but as no expression has been applied to the 

 peculiar development under consideration, I would suggest that of Semina 

 exutiva, as more peculiarly fitted to specify those, distinguished by the ab- 

 sence of the usual seminal tunics, contrary to the ordinary development in 

 Semina indutiva. 



