844 DioECiA MONADELPHiA. MyHsltca, 



in the centre of the calyx and nearly of the same length, thick, 

 linear-oblong, and obtuse. Anthers in general about nine 

 pairs, linear, adjoined lengthways to the upper half of the 

 filaments, but their chief bond of connexion appears to be 

 at their lower extremities. Female. Peduncles axillary, 

 solitary, rather longer then the petioles, while in blossom as- 

 cending one-flowered. Bractes, that of the flowers as in the 

 male. Flowers small, yellow, inodorous. Calyx as in the 

 male. Corol none. Germ ovate, one-celled, containing a 

 single seed, attached to the bottom of the cell. Style scarcely 

 any. 5'/i(/?/m two-lobed. Drwjae superior, someAV hat turbinate, 

 smooth, of the size of a small pullet's egg ; when ripe yellow, 

 and then dividing into two equal portions, beginning at the 

 apex, one-celled. JVut oval, ovate, or nearly round, mark- 

 ed with broad superficial furrows corresponding with the 

 divisions of the deep orange coloured aril, or mace, other- 

 wise smooth ; colour a dark brownish black, very hard, 

 and as the shell is of equal thickness every where, these im- 

 pressions are equally evident on the inside, and are communi- 

 cated to the seed, or nutmeg^ itself, attached by a large umbili- 

 cus to the bottom of the cell. Seed conform to the nut, and 

 covered with a single, light brown, thin, spongy integument. 

 Perisperm conform to the seed, while fresh rather soft, juicy, 

 and somewhat farinaceous, variously variegated, (ruminatum^ 

 Gcert.) with rust coloured veins, while fresh more fragrant 

 than after being dried. Embryo erect, patelliform, lodged 

 in the base of the perisperm, white, and of a firm fleshy con- 

 sistence. Cotyledons two, thick, fan-shaped, and expanding 

 from the middle upwards; margins irregularly cut, or cre- 

 nulate. Plumiila of two unequal lobes. Radicle inferior, 

 hemispherical. 



It is well known that the description of this plant in the 

 Svpplementum Plantarum of the younger Linnieus, taken 

 from Sonnerat is that of another species. 



Lamarck's description, so far at least, as relates to the sta- 

 mens and style, appear to me to have been taken from the 



