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XXV. Note on the Genus Ancistrocladus of Wallich. By G. H. K. Tawarres, Esq., 
F.L.S. &c., Superintendent of the Botanic Garden of Peradenia, Ceylon. 
Read February 21, 1854. 
HAVING recently had opportunities of examining the structure of the flowers of Ancis- 
trocladus Vahlii, as well as its fruit in various stages of development, I have been enabled 
_ to arrive at a more correct knowledge of their structure than appears to have been pre- 
viously within the reach of botanists who have described species of this genus, and there 
would seem to be now little room for uncertainty as to where the genus should be located. 
The circumstance of the fruit of Ancistrocladus being surmounted by the enlarged 
segments of the calyx has led to the genus being introduced by different botanists into 
the several families of Combretacee, Malpighiacee and Dipteracee; from all these, 
however, it essentially differs in its seeds being albuminous. 
With the Symplocee it seems to me that Ancistrocladus would associate better than 
_with any other group of plants, agreeing with them in its undivided exstipulate leaves, 
its character of inflorescence, imbricated calyx and corolla, persistent calyx, stamens 
adhering to the base of the corolla, inferior ovary, albuminous seeds and cylindrical 
embryo. From Symplocee, however, it differs in its scandent habit, its calycine segments 
becoming enlarged, its solitary erect ovule, and the peculiar structure of its albumen. 
With the Myristicee and Anonaceæ, Ancistrocladus would seem to have some slight 
affinity, its only ovule recalling to mind that of Myristica, and the embryo not being very 
dissimilar in the two genera; whilst the scandent habit and uncinate ramuli give Ancis- 
trocladus some considerable resemblance to Artabotrys. 
The following generic character has been drawn up from an inspection of fresh speci- 
mens of Ancistrocladus Vahlii, Arn., and from the figure of Ancistr. Heyneanus, Wall. in | 
the last volume of Dr. Wight’s admirable * Icones Pl. Ind. Orientalis.’ 
| Genus Symploceis affine. | 
ANCISTROCLADUS, Wallich. Wormia, Vahl. Bigamea, König. 
Flores hermaphroditi. Calyx tubo cum ovario connato; limbo 5-partito ; laciniis oblongis, inzequalibus, 
imbricatis, tribus majoribus, omnibus increscentibus, persistentibus. : Corolle petala 5; æqualia, con- 
cava, basi connexa. Stamina 5, imæ corollæ inserta, petalis alterna, (in Ane. Heyneano stamina 10 in 
seriebus duabus). Filamenta basi incrassata, monadelpha, apice cuspidata; duikere adnatz, bilo- 
culares, longitudinaliter dehiscentes; loculis basi divergentibus. Ovarium inferum, 1-loculare. 
Ovulum unicum, erectum, anatropum. Stylus subglobosus, persistens. Stigmata 3, erecta, linearia, 
Nuz coriacea, calycis laciniis coronata. Semen cerebriforme, erectum ; 
I truncata, decidua. ; 
compressa, truncata, de Page 
testa plicato-intricatä, albumen carnosum plicis involventi. Embryo orthotropus, 
dones subfoliacei, divergentes; radicula prope hilum posita. 
2H 
VOL. XXI. 
