116 Mr D. Don on the Characters and Affinities 



analogy between them and Parnassia, because I consider their 

 number as indefinite in the latter genus ; and I am fully con- 

 vinced that no one, who examines the subject with that atten- 

 tion it deserves, will be disposed to question the accuracy of 

 the views here adopted ; for, except the difference in habit, 

 there is no other character hy which Parnassia can be separat- 

 ed from the HyperlcimR. In conclusion, I may observe, that 

 a comparison of the structure and nervation of the leaves, calyx, 

 petals, and even the anthers and capsule, in this genus, affords a 

 beautiful illustration of the origin and nature of these parts. 



PINEDA, Ruiz et Pavon. 



Si/st. Linn. POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Ord. Nat. HOMALINiE, Browti. Decand. 



Penanthium patens, 8- v. 10-partitum, persistens, calycinum : segmentis du- 

 plici ordine digestis, ovato-oblongis, acutiusculis, coriaceis, ?estivatione 

 imbricatis ; exterioribus parum majoribus. Petala o. Faux annulo 

 parum elevato dense piloso aucta : stamina multiplici ordine copiosissima, 

 fauci perianthii inserta : filamenta capillaria, glabra, arcuata : antlieroB 

 subrotundae, extrorsae, biloculares : loculis gibbosis, longitudinaliter de- 

 hiscentibus. Ovarium uniloculare : ovulis indefinitis, funiculis umbilica- 

 libus stipitatis, adscendentibus. Styli plerumque 4, rariiis 3 v. 5, in 

 unum 3-5-angulum connati, singuli e vasorum fasciculis duobus consti- 

 tuentes, medio depress!, adeb subinde sulcato-carinati. Stigmata totidera, 

 siraplicia, obtusa, pruinosa. Capsula (Bacca ex R. et P.) libera, Crusta- 

 cea, unilocularis, evalvis ! apice intra stylos fissura dehiscens. Placentos 

 plerumque 4, rarius 3 v. 6, angustae, parietales, stigmatibus numero 

 aequales, iisdemque alternantes, e confluentia vasorum primariorum ra- 

 mulorum lateralium ortum ducentes, perianthii segmentis collateralibus 

 interioribus oppositse. Semina ad maturitatem pauca, pedicellata, ad- 

 scendentia, subrotundo-obovata, apice depressa, fusca, latere interiore 

 raphe dilatata nuda instructa, arillata ! arillo crassiusculo, cellulose, vix 

 succulento : testa exterior subcrustacea ; interior exteriori adhaerens, tenu- 

 issime membranacea, pulcherrime cellularis, pallide fuscescens, apice 

 areola (chalaza) subrotunda fuscS notata, basi foraminulo usque ad em- 

 bryonem perforata I albumen copiosum, carnosum, album. Embryo 

 crectus : cotyledones reniformes, planae, subfoliacere : radicula teres, crassa, 

 obtusissima, cotyledonibus brevior, umbilico prona. Plumula incon- 

 spicua. 



Frutex (Peruvianus) erectus, ramossimus, biorgyalis. Rami teretes. Folia 

 nndique sparsa^ petiolata, elliptico-oblonga, mu^ronulata, v. rariiis obovata, 

 retusa ac scepe manifeste emarginata^ plana^ ad apicem subserrata, inferne in- 

 tegerrima, utrinque ramulisqus pube simplici brevissima incano-tomentosa, 

 subtiis magis canescentia^ costa prominuld^ venis subimmersis arcuatis^ longi- 

 tudine valde variabilia, scepe e semuncid ad bipollicem. Petioli tomentosi 

 suprd leviter canaliculati, subtus convexi^ 2-lineares, basi ramulis articulati. 

 Stipulse 2, parvoB^ subulatce^ tomentosee, lineam longce^ deciduce. Flores plures 

 (3 V. b) terminales, corymbosi. Pedunculi Jiliformes^ rmijlori, tomentosi^ 

 semipollicares, apice via? incrassati, basi, ut petioli, similiter articulati, Peri- 

 anthium undique tomentosum. StVLiaindi phirima, ^ava. 



