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XXV. Note on the Genus Ancistrocladus of Wallich. By G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., 

 F.L.S. 8rc, Superintendent of the Botanic Garden of Peradenia, Ceylon. 



Read February 21, 1854. 



XlAVING recently had opportunities of examining the structure of the flowers of Ancis- 

 trocladus Vahlii, as well as its fruit in various stages of development, I have been enabled 

 to arrive at a more correct knowledge of their structure than appears to have been pre- 

 viously within the reach of botanists who have described species of this genus, and there 

 would seem to be now little room for uncertainty as to where the genus should be located. 



The circumstance of the fruit of Ancistrocladus being surmounted by the enlarged 

 segments of the calyx has led to the genus being introduced by different botanists into 

 the several families of Combretacea, Malpighiacea and Dipteracea; from all these, 

 however, it essentially differs in its seeds being albuminous. 



With the Symplocea it seems to me that Ancistrocladus would associate better than 

 with any other group of plants, agreeing with them in its undivided exstipulate leaves, 

 its character of inflorescence, imbricated calyx and corolla, persistent calyx, stamens 

 adhering to the base of the corolla, inferior ovary, albuminous seeds and cyhndrical 

 embryo. From Symplocece, however, it differs in its scandent habit, its calycine segments 

 becoming enlarged, its solitary erect ovule, and the peculiar structure of its albumen. 



With the Myristicecc and Anonaceos, Ancistrocladus would seem to have some slight 

 affinity, its only ovule recalling to mind that of Myristica, and the embryo not being very 

 dissimilar in the two genera ; whilst the scandent habit and uncinate ramuli give Ancis- 

 trocladus some considerable resemblance to Artabotrys. 



The following generic character has been drawn up from an inspection of fresh speci- 

 mens of Ancistrocladus Vahlii, Arn., and from the figure of Ancistr. Heyneanus, Wall., in 

 the last volume of Dr. Wight's admirable e Icones PL Ind. Orientalis.' 



Genus Symploceis afline. 

 Ancistrocladus, Wallich. Wormia, Vahl. Bigamea, Konig. 



Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx tubo cum ovario connate-; limbo 5-partito; laciniis oblongis, inaequalibus, 

 imbricatis, tribus majoribus, omnibus increscentibus, persistentibus. Corolla petala 5, aequalia, con- 

 cava, basi connexa. Stamina 5, imae corolla? inserta, petalis alterna, (in Anc. Heyneano stamina 10 in 

 seriebus duabus). Filamenta basi incrassata, monadelpha, apice cuspidata; anthera adnatae, bilo- 

 culares, longitudinaliter dehiscentes; loculis basi divergentibus. Ovarium inferum, 1-loculare. 

 Ovulum unicum, erectum, anatropum. Stylus subglobosus, persistens. Stigmata 3, erecta, linearia, 

 compressa, truncata, decidua. Nux coriacea, calycis laciniis coronata. Semen cerebriforme, erectum ; 

 testa plicato-intricata, albumen carnosum plicis involventi. Embryo orthotropus, clavatus ; cotyle- 

 dones subfoliacei, divergentes ; radicula prope hilum posita. 



VOL. XXI. 2 H 



