AND PECULIAR FORM OF THE EMBRYO IN THE CLUSIACEjE. 257 



extraordinary embryonal development. In this last-mentioned family, the embryo of its 

 exalbuminous seed exhibits, in like manner, a gigantic radicle furnished with exceedingly 

 minute cotyledons ; with this difference, however, that the cotyledons here are separated 

 from the great body of the radicle by a slender free neorhiza or neck ; but if we imagine 

 the suppression of this neorhizal extension in the ffliizobolacew, and the close approxima- 

 tion of its minute cotyledons to its monstrous radicular mass, there would be little or no 

 difference in the form of the embryo in the two families. At the same time that these 

 circumstances tend to draw closer the affinities of the Clusiacece to the Hypericacece and 

 Marcgraaviacece, they remove them to a considerable distance from the Ternstroemiacece, 

 with which Order they have been hitherto considered to be most intimately related. At 

 present, I will do no more than indicate these considerations, as it is my intention to discuss 

 this question more extensively upon a future occasion, when I treat on the general 

 organography, floral structure, and generic features of the whole Order, restricted as I 

 propose it to be. I will merely observe, that in the course of this investigation, I have 

 met with many singular deviations from usual forms, and numerous interesting facts 

 well deserving of record. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 

 Tab. XXVI. 



Fig. 1 . Seeds of IApophyllum latum : — natural size. 



Fig. 2. A seed of the same, seen on the ventral face, with the prominent keel which covers the raphe : — 



much magnified. 

 Fig. 3. The same, seen laterally. 

 Fig. 4. The same, with the arilliform covering removed, and the raphe separated, showing the testa with 



its nearly apical diapyle, and basal micropyle. 

 Fig. 5. Half of the testa of the same removed, showing the inner integument, with its apical chalaza. 

 Fig. 6. The inner integument, with its chalaza. 



Fig. 7. Half of the inner integument removed, exhibiting the position of the enclosed embryo. 

 Fig. 8. Embryo seen laterally, showing the small cotyledons in the apex, and the prominent striae upon 



its surface. 

 Fig. 9. The same, seen on its ventral face, exhibiting the commissure between the cotyledons. 

 Fig. 10. The same, viewed from the summit. 

 Fig. 11. Transverse section of the same, showing the external row of ducts which form the longitudinal 



striae ; the neorhiza is seen in the centre. 

 Fig. 12. Longitudinal section of the same, displaying one of the cotyledons, the gigantic epirhizal radicle 



enclosing the axile neorhiza, which is terminated at its upper extremity by the minute plumule, 



and at its base by its germinating point prior to its coleorhizal protrusion to form the root of 



the future plant : — all also much magnified. 

 Fig. 13. A seed of Lamprophyllum latum, enveloped in its pulpy arillus. 



Fig. 14. The same, with the pulp dried, and half of it removed, in order to show the enclosed seed. 

 Fig. 15. The testa seen on its ventral face, displaying its large hilum, and the branching nervures of its 



imbedded raphe. 



