108 Mr. B. Clarke on the Myricaceae, §•<;. 



The Chloranthacese also decidedly approach Polygonacese in 

 their jointed stems; in the tubular calyx of Hedyosmum (PI. VI. 

 figs. 17 & 18), which agrees with that of Coccoloha ; and especially 

 in the triangular fruits of Hedyosmum (fig. 19), which, when de- 

 prived of the calyx, so much resemble those of a Rumex, that, by 

 their external appearance, they could with difficulty be distin- 

 guished. A tendency also to monadelphous stamens exists in 

 both families, so that they may be regarded as standing in the 

 same relation to Polygonaceee as Casuarinese to the Amental 

 and Urtical families, which would account for some of the 

 Polygonacese having so much the habit of Artocarpese, and 

 also for their ochreate stipules, as there can scarcely be a doubt 

 that they consist of two become connate, being sometimes par- 

 tially separated, with defined margins. 



There is a peculiarity occurring in the calyx of Hedyosmum 

 hirsutum, or an allied species (one of those in which the female 

 flowers are enclosed within thickened bractese so completely that 

 the apex of the calyx and stigma are alone discernible), which 

 is probably quite singular : on removing the bractese, it is found 

 that the calyx does not completely cover the ovary, but has three 

 large loop-holes as it were, so that the three flattened sides of 

 the ovary are seen through it, although it is quite continuous 

 at the angles, and crowns it with its three segments, as in the 

 other species. 



The question referring to the structure of the anthers appears 

 to have arisen entirely from those of Chloranthus itself, as those 

 of the other genera are all of the ordinary two-celled character, 

 or are spuriously four-celled from induplication at the line of 

 dehiscence, — a very common occurrence in families with two- 

 celled anthers; and, in fact, the four-celled structure is more 

 apparent, on a transverse section being made, both in those of 

 Hedyosmum and Ascarina, and especially in those of the latter, 

 which are undoubtedly single anthers, than in those of Chlor- 

 anthus. That the anthers of Chloranthus agree entirely with 

 those of the other genera, is shown by the approximation of the 

 two central cells, by their being larger and equal in length, and 

 also by their place of attachment to the filament, which is higher 

 up than that of the lateral cells by half their length (PI. VI. 

 fig. 14). These lateral half-anthers, also, in Chloranthus incon- 

 spicuuSy besides the attachment of their cells being nearer the 

 base of the monadelphous filaments, are separated from the 

 central anther by a fissure in the connective for at least half their 

 length (fig. 15). 



The stamen of Chloranthus may be described as having the 

 thickened connective of that of Sarcandra, although not to the 

 same degree, but it has the addition of half an anther on each 



