358 Proceedings of the 



(dedoublemenf). From these examinations it results that the flower 

 of the resedac is composed 1st, of the verticillus of the calyx ; 

 2nd, of a verticillus of petals, alternating with the calyx ; 3rd, of 

 a second row of petals, opposed to the first, and fastened to 

 it ; 4th, of a verticillus of nectarian scales, alternating with the 

 double row of petals ; 5th, of the stamina ; and 6th, of the gyne- 

 ceum. Now the flower which is the prototype of the dicotyledons, 

 presents 1st, a calyx ; 2nd, a corolla, composed of as many parts, 

 alternating with those of the calyx, as there are divisions in the latter ; 

 3rd, stamina opposed to, and corresponding in number with the 

 petals; 4th, the nectary; and 5th, the gyneceum. We therefore 

 find in the flower of the resedas as many orders of parts as there are 

 in the prototype or pattern-flower. And if, in order to arrive at an 

 exact comparison, we regard these different orders of parts according 

 to the rank which they occupy in the floral receptacle, we shall find 

 that the second row of petals in the resedas corresponds with the 

 opposed stamina of the pattern flower, the nectarian scales with the 

 alternating stamina, and the staminal verticillus of the resedas with 

 the nectary of the pattern-flower ; thus proving that the extreme 

 mobility of vegetable organization admits of different parts of the 

 flower changing their places in kindred genera. 



Plants of Chili. On the same day Messrs. H. Cassini and 

 Mirbel made the following report on a memoir by Adrien de Jussieu, 

 entitled ' Observations sur quelques plantes du Chili.' The memoir 

 consists of detached observations, which it is sufficient to notice where 

 they present any feature of peculiar novelty. The genus Francoa, 

 placed by M. de Candolle near the Rosaceae, is placed by M. de 

 Jussieu, in accordance with the opinion of M. Don, nearer to the 

 saxifragae. M. de Jussieu proposes to unite the genus Francoa with 

 the genus Tetilla, in a small group bordering on, but sufficiently 

 distinct from the saxifragae, and to be called Francoacia. He also 

 proposes a new genus, to be called Ercilla, and to belong to the 

 family of the menispermae. M. de Jussieu gives a more complete 

 description of the genus Villaresia than had been given by its 

 authors Ruis and Pavon ; and without going the length of asserting 

 that he has resolved the problem of its proper classification, he points 

 out several striking points of analogy between the genus in question 

 and the holly (ilex cequifolium). The genus Decostea, placed by 

 M. Knutt in the suite of the Juglandes, is, from its striking re- 

 semblance to the Aucnba, attributed by M. de Jussieu, without hesi- 

 tation, to the family of the Corni. 



A very small plant of the order of the Onagianes, discovered by 

 M. Gay de Draguignan in the mountains of the province of St. Jago, 

 is made the foundation of a new genus, called by M. de Jussieu 

 Gayophytum, in honour of the discoverer : its principal peculiarity 

 is, that the number of cells (Zog-es).of the ovary is only half of that 

 of the petals. 



