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XIX. On a new Genus of Plants of the Family of Burmanniacez. 
By Jonn Miers, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 
Read April 20th, 1847. 
THE curious little rhizomatous plant that forms the subject of the present 
notice is a native of Brazil, and is the more deserving of attention on account 
of its close relation to another not less singular plant lately found in a very 
opposite quarter of the world: but before offering any remarks on its affini- 
ties, I will present an outline of its generic features. The name by which I 
propose to distinguish it is Ophiómeris, from oduc, serpens, uepic, membrum, on 
account of the serpentine shape of the interior segments of its perianthium, 
which assume very much the same form as those of the remarkable genus 
Triuris, the details of which have been honoured with a place in the Society's 
Transactions *. 
OPHIOMERIS. 
Cuar. Dirr. Perianthium superum, tubulosum, gibbosum, caducum ; fauce laterali annulo 
semiclausa ; limbo 6-partito, laciniis 3 exterioribus brevibus ovatis, 3 interioribus lon- 
gissimis subulatis. Stamina 6, libera, infra perianthii faucem inserta et ejus laciniis 
opposita, inclusa, versus tubum retroflexa; filamentis petaloideis expansis, margine 
appendiculatis ; antheris adnatis, in sinu filamentorum terminalibus, 2-locularibus, 
loculis longitudinaliter dehiscentibus. Ovarium inferum, 1-loculare; placentis 3 parie- 
talibus, medio ovuligeris, ovulis indefinitis anatropis. Stylus brevis. Stigmata 3. 
Fructus turbinatus, truncatus, apice operculatim dehiscens, l-locularis. Semina plu- 
rima scobiformia. Embryo ignotus. 
Cuar. Nar. Perianthium monophyllum, petaloideum, tubulosum, imo ovario adnatum, de- 
mum circumscissum et deciduum, tubo lineis 6 notato, ventricoso, valdé gibboso, fauce 
feré laterali valdé contract, corona depressá annulari, margine integro colorato ; limbi 
laciniis 6, in duplici serie, inzequalibus ; 3 exterioribus (sepalis) obovatis, obtusis, reflexo- 
patentibus, zstivatione subimbricatis ; 3 alternis (petalis) angustioribus tereti-subulatis, 
* Trans. Linn. Soc. xix. p. 77. 
