Linnaan Society. '273 



Semiiia indefinita, adscendentia ; testa cellulosa, tenuissirna. Albumen 



nullum. Plumula polyphylla, hilo subopposita. 

 Obs. Character ex Crypt, ciliaid oinnino excerptus. 

 Crypt, ciliafa, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, spathae limbo tubuloso-convoluto 



apice dilatato oblongo-lanceolato ciliato. 

 Crypt, ciliata, Fisch. I. c. 



Ambrosinia ciliata, Roxb. Corom. PL t. 262. FL Indica, iii. p. 491. 

 Hab. ad ripas limosas fluminis Hoogbly aestubus alternis fere omnino 

 submersa. Floret fructusque fert per totum fere annum. 



After a detailed description of the plant, and an indication of the 

 errors into which Roxburgh and those who have followed him had 

 fallen with reference to it, Mr. Griffith proceeds to trace the more 

 remarkable anomalies from their origin through their various stages 

 of development, with the view of reducing them to the ordinary 

 type. 



The anthers, he states, may from a very early period be compared 

 to two cups joined together by their contiguous margins, the wide 

 and open mouth which they present in their mature state being ori- 

 ginally clo} c(\ by an extremely fine membrane, which also lines the 

 cavity of the cup, in the interior of which the pollen is formed. As 

 the anther enlarges this membrane assumes the form of a gradually 

 lengthening cone, which at length becomes subulate and perforated 

 at the apex. But this opening appears to be insufficient for the 

 escape of the grains of pollen, and the membrane finally separates 

 from the edges of cup- shaped theca, leaving the grains of pollen free 

 and uncovered. The agency of insects appears, however, to be gene- 

 rally resorted to to ensure fecundation, the lower portion of the spa- 

 tha being found during impregnation to contain many small flies, 

 which have perished from inability to escape after the performance 

 of their important duty. 



The ovultty at the earliest period of observation, are described as 

 oblong bodies, having, a little below their points, a slight constric- 

 tion, above which they are papilliform. At a somewhat later period 

 the base of the papilliform nucleus is surrounded by an annulus, 

 which Mr. Griffith describes as a growth from that part of the ovu- 

 lum situated below the constriction, and which is the rudiment of 

 the integument of the ovulum : it soon increases and forms a sort of 

 cup, beyond which the nucleus at first projects considerably. This 

 Mr. Griffith regards as a good example of the correctness of Mr. 

 Brown's opinion as to the comparatively late origin of the integu- 

 ments in the generality of ovula. As the development proceeds the 

 nucleus becomes entirely enclosed in the cup, the mouth of which is 

 gradually narrowed. After impregnation, the period of which is 

 marked by the withering of the spatha, the centre of the nucleus be- 

 comes more transparent, and is evidently excavated. The foramen 

 is still visible, but soon afterwards becomes indistinct. The cavity 

 of the nucleus gradually extends upwards to near the apex of that 

 body and downwards towards the hilum ; its lower portion is occu- 

 pied by cellular tissue, assuming the form of a sac, and quite free from 

 adhesion inferiorly ; while the upper third contains an oblong cel- 

 lular body with a conical apex, which constitutes the rudimentary 



