214 Mr. BaniNaTON on the Structure of Cuscuta europea. 
and Schultes in their specific character say, “ fauce nuda,” but add the obser- 
vation,“ Squamulas ad stamina bifurcas vidit Raymond." 
The strongly palmate form which is given to the scales in Reich. Icon. Pl. 
v. f. 690, and the words “squamula crenata” used by Spenner, caused me to 
examine numerous flowers before [ could satisfy myself that their structure 
was such as I have given in f. I., but I was unable to detect a single tooth 
upen any of the specimens. I cannot explain the cause of their error. Reich- 
enbach figures each scale exactly under its corresponding stamen, and yet 
supposes them to be petals and to alternate with the stamens. He would 
appear to consider, what I believe to be one single scale, as in reality two. It 
may be as well to quote his words; they are, * Clarior enim redditur illa 
fabrica ubi intelligere placeat, stamina calyci adherentia produci nec non 
usque inter ipsorum petalorum insertionem decurrere." (Icon. Pl. v. p. 62.). 
This view is manifestly incorrect, for the scales constitute a complete internal 
whorl, each of them being connected with its neighbour so as to form a short 
tube, the upper edge of which is always free and distinct from the corolla 
(calyx of Reich.), and the lower parts of the filaments of the stamens may be 
traced under the cuticle of the corolla, descending exactly behind the centre 
of each scale. It is perfectly clear, therefore, that the scales cannot represent 
petals, since the whorl of stamens is invariably found within that of petals, but 
in this plant the stamens are situated further from the axis of the flower than 
the so-called corolla. 
I do not attempt to form any theory concerning these minute organs, but 
hope that some fortunate botanist will soon discover them in such a state of 
monstrous development as to show what is their real nature. 
That the number of scales is equal to that of the segments of the corolla is 
proved by their structure in C. epithymum, in which plant they are not even 
divided into two lobes. "There is not, indeed, the slightest trace of a division 
to be discovered with a very high power of the microscope. I ought to add, 
that Reichenbach does not continue the above theory in his Flora ercursoria ; 
but reverts to the old nomenclature. 
I shall not attempt a description of the scales in our two native species of 
Cuscuta, since my figures will convey a far better idea of their structure than 
can be given in words. Fig. 1. represents the corolla of C. europea laid open, 
