Dr. WALKER-ARNOTT on Samara læta, Linn. 361 
as the typical representation of the Linnean genus, even although the stamens, 
after Burmann, are exhibited alternate with the petals, not opposite to them 
as in the description (i. p. 303). In the * Prodromus Florze Peninsulz Indiz 
Orientalis, i. p. 319, Dr. Wight and I, in 1834, referred Burmann's plant to 
M. ramiflorum, Lam., or M. umbellatum, Geertn., without any hesitation, and 
stated that * Burmann in his figures of this and of M. capitellatum has only 
noticed four stamens, thereby leading Linnzeus and others to refer tab. 31 to 
the very different Samara leta," Burmann's equally faulty figure and descrip- 
tion of M. capitellatum having been overlooked, while it was made of im- 
portance in M.ramiflorum. At that time I had not analysed the true S. læta, 
and therefore was obliged to leave it in uncertainty, although from a pen-and- 
ink sketch, traced for me by Dr. Wight from the. Linnean specimen, I had 
little doubt in my own mind that it would prove a Myrsineous plant, and 
closely allied to Choripetalum, if not of the same genus. Dr. Lindley in his 
second edition of the * Introduction to the Natural System,’ p. 225, refers it to 
Myrsinee, and almost next to Choripetalum: but I do not now remember if, 
amongst a few memoranda I sent him for that edition, I gave him my views 
of the position of the genus, and induced him to place it in an order from 
which he has since removed it. Meisner in his * Plantarum Vasculosarum 
Genera,' ii. p. 51, adopts Dr. Wight's and my conclusions as to Burmann's 
plant, but refers * Samara, Linn. (non Sw.)" to Rhamnew, “Genus non satis 
notum, sed verosimiliter Rhamnaceum genuinum."  Endlicher in his * Genera 
Plantarum,’ p. 1104, places Samara of Linnzus among the “Genera Rham- 
neis affinia," and excludes the synonym of Burmann; but whilst he does so, 
he most unaccountably adds, “arbuscula Zeylanica,” which applies solely to 
Burmann’s plant, Linnzeus nowhere saying that his was obtained from Ceylon. 
Lastly, following these, Dr. Lindley in his ‘Vegetable Kingdom’ refers the 
Linnean plant also to Rhamnec, but with a mark of doubt. 
Whilst making some observations on the Corollifloree in the * Annales du 
Muséum,’ xv. pp. 351 and 353, Jussieu states that he had previously referred 
Samara to the Rhamnec * à cause de sa corolle indiquée comme polypétale ;" 
and he now compares it with Myrsine. He supposes however Myrsine to 
have a 5-celled and 5-ovuled ovary, while the Ardisiacee, its allies, had an 
unilocular ovary: on which account he proposes to place Myrsine either at 
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