Mr Don on the Affinities of the Empetreae. 59 



gation for large barges, it is presumed, will, notwithstanding, 

 be impeded for an hour or two each tide, at and during the time 

 of low-water, particularly at spring-tides. 



It was not, however, my intention, in this paper, to do more 

 than record the preceding particulars, for the purpose of com- 

 parison hereafter. I shall not, therefore, enter farther upon the 

 probable changes which the removal of the bridge may occasion ; 

 a short time will decide the question, by the best of all tests, ac- 

 tual experience. 



On the Affinities of' the Empetrece, a natural Group of Plants. 

 By Mr David Don, Libr. L. S. &c. Communicated by the 

 Author. 



X AM aware that it has abeady been proposed to separate Em~ 

 petrum from the Ericece * ; but the mere removal of it from 

 that family, was nothing more than what Jussieu himself had 

 previously done. That its relative affinities have hitherto been 

 entirely overlooked, no one who has given the least attention to 

 the investigation will for a moment question ; and it would only 

 be a waste of time to attempt to point out the discrepances be- 

 tween the Empetrea and Ericea, or between them and Conifera, 

 of which Nuttall is disposed to consider them as a section -f ; for^ 

 with the exception of a slight resemblance in habit, there is 

 really neither analogy nor affinity between them ; nor do the 

 Empetrece even belong to the same natural class with either of 

 these families. I have, however, lately discovered a remarkable 

 affinity between this group and EuphorbiacecB, as well as Ce- 

 lastrincE, which it is my principal object in this paper to point 

 out ; but, as they appear to me to be more intimately allied to 

 the former, the comparison will be chiefly confined to these two 

 tribes. The Euphorbiacece and Empetrece agree, therefore, in 

 the imbricate agstivation of their calyx ; in the stamens being 

 opposite to the divisions of the calyx, and both these being of an 



• Nutt. Gen. 2. p. 233. t Nutt. 1. c. 



