100 Mr. Guirrrrü on the Indian Species of Balanophora, 
Oes. IV.—In the present state of our knowledge the locus naturalis of the 
family to which this genus belongs must, it appears to me, at best be founded 
on conjecture. The assistance of physiology is in the first place essential. Of 
all the notions* however regarding it, that of Agardh, as given by Endlicher 
and Schott in their * Meletemata' T, appears to me the most plausible, although 
he would seem to include Cynomorium in the family, and to make it the typical 
genus. Although I have not observed these plants to have milky juice, or am 
inclined to lay much stress on some of the signs of affinity given by Agardh, 
yet in the separation of the sexes, the valvular estivation of the perianthium, 
and the apposition of the stamina to its component parts, there are perhaps 
some signs of affinity ; and although the development of the pistilla of Bala- 
nophora appears to me an insurmountable objection, still they resemble in 
texture the pistilla of some Urticee as much, if not more, than those of any | 
other plant. 
As a mere hypothesis, then, I would consider Balanophoree, judged of 
chiefly by Balanophora, as the homogeneous embryo form of Urticine, form- 
ing a direct passage in one, and usually the more perfect structure, to Musci 
and Hepatice. But in this, as in all other very doubtful cases, it is much 
more advisable to consider them as aliens than to force them into any sub- 
kingdom, class or order, As aliens, every observing botanist’s eye will be 
upon them. As undoubted citizens, they may find, under authority, places 
anywhere, and will certainly cease to be general objects of observation. 
PuxoconDvus, Gri $ 
ium Gex., Sexus diclines. Mas: ignotus, Fem: Ovaria nuda, in axi spice sessilia, 
pilis cellulosis (paraphysiformibus) immersa. Stylus filiformis, deciduus (exsertus). 
= n considered it allied to Hydrocharideg and Aroidee and Aristolochiee, especially Cytinus, 
placed between the former, which terminate the Monocotyledonous, and Aristolochiee, which 
commence the Dicotyledonous series (Ann. Mus. viii. 434). Almost all writers seem to consider it as 
Monocotyledonous, 
-T Fase, Lh P. 9. Obs. II. 
$ This genus approaches very closely to Rhopalocnemis, 
