mth Remarks on their AffinUies. 49 



with those species of Jasmmum^ wherein the number of *g- 

 ments is also indeterminate, will display more clearly the inti- 

 mate affinity existing between these two families. They differ, 

 however, essentially from Jasmine(£y by having an adherent ova- 

 rium, by the presence of a pcrigynous disk, by the undivided 

 stigma, and lastly, by having an inferior capsule, with polysper- 

 mous cells. The imbricate aestivation of their corolla, an adhe- 

 rent ovarium, with erect ovula, the presence of a perigynous 

 disk, and a capsule with polyspermous cells, are characters suffi- 

 ciently numerous and important to prevent their being ever con- 

 founded with the OleincB, and to establish them as an osculant 

 group between that family and Jasminece, and to which the 

 name of Columelliea may be given. I was at first disposed to 

 regard the singular structure of the anthers in Colu7neUia, as 

 arising from the confluence of two stamina ; but the uninterrupt- 

 ed continuation of the cell throughout the various convolutions, 

 and an examination of the anthers in Menodora, prove these 

 organs in Columellia to be only simple. But the Cohimelliea 

 appear to be nearly related also to Halesia, which constitutes 

 the rudiments of another small group, forming the connecting 

 link between Oleina and Ebenacea. This group, which I have 

 named Halesiacece^ and which is widely different from Styra- 

 cince, are principally distinguished from Columelliece by the in- 

 definite number of their stamina, and their simple stigma. 



TO V ARIA, Ruiz et Pawn. 

 SysU Linn, OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.— ATa/. Ord, CAPPARIDE^. 



Calyx plerumque 8-phyllus (rariiis 6, 7, v. 9-phyllus), patens, deciduus : foliolis 

 ovato-lanceolatis, Petaia foliolis calycinis numero sequalia, et altema, 

 disco elevato, carnoso, tuberculato inserta, obovata, 6-nervia, venis dis- 

 tinctis : unguibtis dense papilloso barbatis. Stamina tot quot petaia, iis- 

 demque altema, et disco magis ad interius inserta : filamenta subulata, 

 inferne pilis simplicibus copiose ornata : anthercB introrste, biloculares, 

 basi insertae, primikm erectoe, demum maturescentes incumbentes, et sfepe 

 (^uasi extrorsae : loculis parallelis, basibus solutis, rima longitudinali de- 

 hiscentibus : valvulis crassiusculis. Ovarium uniloculare, laeve, sphaeri- 

 cum, disco impositum : ovtdis plurimis, parietalibus. Stylus brevissimus, 

 crassus, teres, glaber. Stigma 8-lobuni, lobis tuberculiformibus, primilm 

 conniventibus, subt^s sulcatis, hinc cupulatum, supra concavum, (>-8.suI- 

 catum, copiose papilloso-puberuni, disco umbilicatum. Bacca globosa, uni- 

 locularis, Crustacea, stylo persistente coronata, disco elevato imposita, intis 

 pulpa succulenta omnino repleta, nervis stigmatis lobis numero aequalibus 

 peragrata, irregulariter rumpens, polysperma. Semina numerosissima, sim- 

 plici gyro cochieata, in pulpam nidulantia : testa duplex ; exterior Crusta- 

 cea, badia, minute punctata ; interior membranacea, diaphana, alba, cellu- 



OCTOBER DECEMBER 1828. D 



