D 525 J 
XXXIV. A Monograph of Streptopus, with the Description of a new Genus 
now first separated from it. By Davm Don, Esq., Libr. L. &., Prof. Bot. 
King’s Coll. Lond. 
Read December 3rd, 1839. 
WHILE engaged in investigating the affinities of Disporum, my attention 
was naturally directed to the examination of various genera, either belonging 
to Melanthaceæ, or to families nearly related to it, and among others to the 
two genera which form the subject of the present paper. In my former com- 
munication I have already adverted to the new genus, of which Streptopus 
lanuginosus is the type, and I have also noticed the position which it occupies 
in the series of natural affinities, and that the chain of connexion between 
Melanthaceæ and Smilaceæ is rendered complete by means of it and Disporum. 
The new genus in question agrees with Disporum in its perianthium, in its 
binary ovula, and in its habit and inflorescence; but it differs in the position 
of its anthers, in its ovula being pendulous, and in its less deeply separated 
styles. | 
The genus Streptopus was first proposed by the elder Richard in Michaux's 
Flora Boreali- Americana, and was intended to include not only the Uvularia 
amplexifolia of Linnæus, but two other plants therein described for the first 
time, namely, S. roseus and lanuginosus. The two last are exclusively con- 
fined to North America, while the first is common to Europe and America. 
The characters of the genus consist in its hexaphyllous campanulate peri- 
anthium, with the sepals deciduous, and furnished with a nectariferous furrow 
at their base; erect sagittate anthers, with short dilated filaments; three 
separate stigmata; and in its baccate pericarpium with polyspermous cells. 
These characters will be found united in S. amplexifolius, which must be 
considered as the type; and a careful comparison of it with the other species 
included by Richard clearly shows that lanuginosus must be removed from 
the genus. The genus, as here proposed to be limited, will comprise S. am- 
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