MR. J. MIERS ON THE GENUS ATAMISQUEA. 5 



of four segments into two, while the inner series of six segments may be viewed as nor- 

 mally consisting of four leaflets, that is to say, with two of the opposite petals somewhat 

 depauperated, while the intervening ones are cleft nearly to their base. This latter view 

 is rendered somewhat the more probable, by the apparent insertion of all the six petals 

 upon one line, and by the cohesion of the upper and lower pairs by their claws, when torn 

 away from their place by force : the appearance of the teeth, or indurated remains of the 

 claws of the petals, that are distinctly seen on the inner margin of the persistent calycine 

 cup, corroborates this view of the case, which is further confirmed by the fact, that when 

 dried each of the sepals by pressure easily splits down the middle, by a clean line, into 

 two distinct segments. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



Tab. I. 



Atamisquea emarginata. 



Fig. 1. The flower, shown in aestivation. 



Fig. 2. The same, with the two sepals expanded, the petals still remaining closed. 



Fig. 3. The same, fully expanded : — all of the natural size. 



Fig. 4. A magnified view of fig. 2, to show the mode of aestivation of the petals. 



Fig. 5. A magnified view of fig. 3. 



Fig. 6. The same, with the sepals and petals fallen away, to show the mode of insertion of the stamens 

 and thecaphore in the calycine cup. 



Fig. 7- The petals, showing the basal union of the two longer pairs. 



Fig. 8. The six fertile and three sterile stamens, shown distinct, with the gland at the base of each fila- 

 ment : the mode of their aestivation, and the curled appearance of the anthers after dehiscence, 

 is also seen. 



Fig. 9. A magnified view of the calycine cup, after the sepals, petals, and stamens have fallen away ; 

 showing the persistent teeth (which are the indurated remains of the claws of the petals), and 

 the portion of the thecaphore, with its glabrous base, and the discal ring, to which the filaments 

 are attached. 



Fig. 10. A berry, of its natural size. 



Fig. 11. The same, magnified. 



Fig. 12. The same, with the epicarp and pulp removed, exhibiting the manner in which the two seeds are 

 suspended, and nourished by the placenta. 



Fig. 13. The same, with the seeds removed also, to show the persistent replum and bifurcate placenta. 



Fig. 14. The seeds magnified, seen edgeways, and in front. 



Fig. 15. A longitudinal section of the testa, showing the nucleus, with its extremities curved inwards, and 

 inclosed within the false cell of the incomplete dissepiment. 



Fig. 16. The same, with the nucleus removed. 



Fig. 17- The nucleus extracted, showing the endopleura, with its chalaza. 



Fig. 18. The embryo in its natural form, deprived of its integuments. 



Fig. 19. The same, with the cotyledons expanded, to show the mode of their plicated convolution. 



