Prof. Don’s Monograph of the Genus Disporum. 515 
paradoxical as it may seem, differs only from Uvularia in its habit, less deeply 
separated styles, and in the strictly marginal position of the cells of its an- 
thers. : 
The class of Monocotyledonous plants offers a beautiful confirmation of the 
truth of the doctrine of the continuity of the series of organized beings ; and 
however much the universal existence of transition or osculant genera in this 
class may perplex the botanist who looks to the technical definition of his 
groups as the highest object of the science, we are not to exclude such genera 
from our researches merely because their presence renders the circumscription 
of our pretended natural orders more difficult, for they certainly form the 
most interesting part of the study of natural affinities. 
Being aware of the near affinity of Schelhammera to Disporum, I was induced 
to examine a supposed species of that genus, which annually flowers and ma- 
tures its fruit in one of the green-houses in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, 
and I found that it not only differed essentially from Disporum, but likewise 
from Schelhammera itself, éonstituting a distinct genus from both. "To enable 
my readers the better to contrast its characters with Disporum, a description 
of that genus is subjoined to the present communication. Having, as I trust, 
sufficiently explained my views as to the affinities of Disporum, I shall now 
proceed to the description of the genus, and of the species belonging to it. 
DISPORUM. Salisb. 
Draprezia. Bl. 
Uvu ari sp, Xa Wall. 
STREPTOPI sp. Sm. 
Perianthium 6-phyllum, petaloideum, campanulatum, æquale, deciduum : 
Joliolis basi saccatis v. calearatis. Stamina 6, basi sepalorum inserta, 
simulque decidua. Anthere erectæ, extrorsæ, biloculares, duplici rima 
longitudinalitèr dehiscentes. Ovdriwm liberum, 3-loculare: loculis bi- 
ovulatis. Ovula collateralia, adscendentia. Stigmata 3, recurvata. Pe- 
ricarpium baccatum, indehiscens, turbinato-trigonum, 3-loculare, 3-sper- 
mum, nunc abortu monospermum. Semina plerumque solitaria, rarò 
bina, subrotunda, fusca, levia, hinc convexa, inde planiuscula, hilo nudo 
VOL. XVIII. ; 3 Y 
