94 



development the stamen shows traces of having been formed by a 

 concrescence of three separate ones. The pollen develops normally 

 up to the time of its forming two nuclei, but mag later on form 

 three nuclei ivhich appear to degenerate. 



Which systematic position has to be given to Hhopalocnemis ? 



Of this we know absolutely nothing and probably never will. 

 To me it is not even clear whether the plant is monocotyle- 

 donous or dicotyledonous in as much as in the arrangement 

 of its vascular bundles and in the development of its pollen 

 it shows characters which belong to monocotylae and dicotylae 

 combined. 



There can be no doubt that it has been placed rightly by 

 V. TiEGHEM in the groupe of the Helosideae , which v. Tieghem, 

 considers to be a sub-family of the Balanophoraceae. Though 

 but a matter of degree it seems to me that the differences 

 especially in the female flowers of the Helosideae and those of 

 the Balanophorideae are so great that it is less confusing to 

 separate the latter entirely from them and divide the old 

 family of the Balanophoraceae into three new families viz. the 

 Sarcophytidaceae , the Helosidaceae and the Balanophoraceae s. s. 

 It seems to me not at all proved that there is a near relation- 

 ship between the Helosidaceae and the Balanophoraceae. 



While consequently so far my opinion differs from that of 

 v. Tieghem but in degree I must say that I fail entirely to 

 see any relationship whatever between the Viscaceae and the 

 Balanophoraceae and it seems to me that where Mr. v. Tieghem 

 establishes the group of the Loranthineae subdivising them in 

 Loranthales and Viscales, while the latter are divided in Viscaleae 

 and Balanophoraceae the facts do not warrant this proceeding at 

 all. All points which v. Tieghem uses as a support for his view 

 (s. Torganisation florale des Balanophoracees et sur la place 

 de cette famille dans la sous-classe des Dicotyledonees inovulees 

 ou Loranthinees. Soc. Bot. de France 1896 p. 295/310 and 



