and on various Plants related to t/iem. 380 



hypothesis of Dr. Lindley regarding the structure of its pistillum, and to 

 establish, perhaps, the tact that the pistillutn of Ptiniea is. at least in its carlv 

 stages, as definitely compound as that of Sormeratia and Duabanga y with which 

 it appears to me to form a natural family intermediate between LythraHece and 

 Myrtacece. Its anomalies, which are remarkable, may probably be explained 

 by due consideration of the empty space found in the axis of the ovarium of 

 Duabanga, and by the placentation of Pternandra. 



I believe that simplicity and precision would be attained by abandoning 

 the use of the term stigma, and by describing it as the stigmatic surface or 

 surfaces. No term is at present more frequently misapplied . sec. tor instance, 

 Tacca ; and even amended descriptions, as that of Mr. Bentham* regarding 

 the stigma of Labiatce, are not always as correct as they might he. 



Obs. III. — lam not aware whether in the original description of this plant 

 any mention is made of the repliform lines; nor am I sure that these become 

 constantly separated. They alternate with the valves, and correspond in situ- 

 ation with the vascular bundles of the angles of the cruciform placenta of tin 

 ovarium, a body very different in appearance from the rest of that organ. 



Asiphonia. 



Char. Gen. Perianthium aequale, rotatum, tripartitum, tubo nullo. Stamina 8-10, uni- 

 seriata (filamentis nullis). Stigma discoideum, sinuoso-lobatum. Perirarjiium siliqui- 

 forme, 4-loculare, 4-valve, polyspermum. Semina trigona, rugoso-papiliosa. 



Frutex subscandens, facie Piperis fruticosa cujusdam, artiadis tumidis. Folia venation* 



melmtomaceo-piperoided. Corymbus terminalis. Spicis paucifloris ; floribus sursurn 



seeundis, bibracteolatis. 



Asiphonia piperiformis. 



Descr. Frutex vagus, subscandens, odore piperaceo. Rami articulati, ad articulos in- 

 crassati. Folia alterna, vel distiche subpatentia, vel saepius subpendula, breve petiolata, 

 e basi ovata vel subcordata oblonga, acuminatissima, integra, subtus pubescentia, basi 

 5-venia; venae 2 laterales evanidae, cum lateralibus exterioribus venarum intermediarurn 

 cit6 confluentes : 2 intermedin? apicem versus cum secundariis venae primariao (costae) 

 arcuato-anastomosantes : interveniae caeterum transverse venulosar, interstitiis reticulata. 

 Inflorescentia cymoso-corymbosa, terminalis et ex axilla folii ultimi. Spicae incrassata . 

 Flores subspicati, sursum subsecundi, erecti, inconspicui, initio viridescentes, dernum 



* Lindley, Introd. Nat. Syst. p. 196. 



