a new Natural Order. 409 
lower petal, corresponding to the emarginate apex of the double calycine 
segment, is in fact narrower than the rest, and represents a kind of labellum, 
analogous by its position to the small abortive petal of Melianthus major. A 
somewhat hippocrepiform gland embraces the base of the back of the two pos- 
terior stamens, which are half connected together, while the other two are free ; 
the whole of the andreecium and disc being thus the very image of the cor- 
responding parts in Melianthus. In both, the quaternary number of the 
stamens is in strong contrast with the quinary proportion of the petals and 
calycine segments ; the disc is in both incomplete and excentric, opposite to 
the posterior stamens, and placed outside of their filaments, the vacant place 
of the fifth not developed stamen being opposite to the posterior sepal; so 
that, when we come to Bersama, where the quinary proportion and the 
regular alternation of all the verticils of the floral parts is a constant and 
usual character, we find there exemplified, by a living demonstration, what 
the laws of symmetry led us to conceive of the normal state of the flower of 
Natalia and Melianthus. 
What has been said of the three genera in question will perhaps appear 
sufficient to justify their combination into one natural order, to which the 
name of Melianthece may be applied. It remains still to point out the distinc- 
tive marks which, according to their importance, may be deemed either of 
generic or of sectional value in these plants. A large, coloured, remarkably 
irregular calyx; four of the petals in part connected by their claws; the 
stigmatic toothlets of the style very small; a capsule of a papyraceous tex- 
ture; two ovules at least, and sometimes four or six in each cell; and seeds 
destitute of arillus ;—these are the characteristic features which distinguish 
the section of Eumelianthew or Melianthec proper; while the slighter irre- 
gularity of the flowers, the free petals, thick stigmatic lobes, coriaceous cap- 
sule, solitary ascending ovules, and arillate seeds will obviously define the 
section of Bersamec, including Bersama and Natalia. 
As to the less important features, a few words suffice to express the distinc- 
tion between the two last-mentioned genera: JVafalia has, like Melianthus, 
four stamens, two of which are quite free; Bersama, on the otber hand, more 
strictly symmetrical in its structure, has its five stamens equally connected 
by the broad bases of their filaments. 
3H 2 
