380 Mr. Miers on a new Genus of Plants 
origin, as well as in the production of the lobes of the perianth into long seti- 
form appendages, which are convolutely enclosed in zstivation, to that of the no 
less singular little plant Triuris hyalina, formerly described before the Society 
(Linn. Trans. xix. p. 78. tab. 7). It is also worthy of remark, that the genus 
Peltophyllum of Mr. Gardner (Linn. Trans. xix. p. 155. tab. 15), which is closely 
allied to Triuris, exhibits a radical leaf on a distinct lengthened petiole, offering — 
another coincidental resemblance to Tacca, although the peltate form and pecu- — 
liar venation of its leaf resembles more that of Cissampelos. It is true, that in 
Tacca there are 6 stamens fixed to the tube of a 6-partite perianthium, three of 
its lobes being smaller than the three other alternate ones ; that the large fleshy 
connective which bears the anther is deflexed, so that it thus assumes an ex- 
trorse aspect; that the inferior ovarium is 1-celled, as in Thismia, and the 
ovules in like manner fixed on 3 parietal placentze; that the seeds are borne 
upon a pendent funiculus, which, being retroverted, gives them an ascendant 
position, points in common in both cases : but their very distinct habit, the 
mode of their growth, the presence of large fully-developed leaves upon long 
radicular petioles, the mode of inflorescence, the existence of a distinct embryo 
enclosed in albumen, and other striking differences, prevent any association of 
these plants in the same natural order, the alliance of Tacca being evidently 
close to Smilacee. — Triuris, again, resembles Ophiomeris in the particulars i 
just alluded to; but then its dicecious character, the union of its 3 pairs of — 
anther-cells on a central fleshy connective in the one sex, and its numerous 
l-seeded free ovaria in the other gender, remove it at once from Burman- 
macee. If however we imagine a plant with 3 pairs of anthers similar to a 
those of Tacca, their cucullate enlarged connectives being united into one 
central fleshy column, we have a structure not very dissimilar from the male 
flower of Triuris: indeed a somewhat similar structure is exhibited by Ruscus 
in Smilacee. But although Tacca and Triuris offer several points of approach 
towards ‘this last-mentioned family, the same cannot be said of any of the 
Burmanniacece, whose alliance is evidently close to the Orchidee. It is how- 
iw to be borne in mind, that in Zristolochiee and Menispermee we have 
mios of stamens united in a central column, and in the latter case also 
unisexual plants; but the apparent want of decided cotyledonous form in the 
embryo, the low degree of development in the whole plant, and the absence 
