14 DR. J. D. HOOKER ON THE STRUCTURE AND 
cophyte, in which they occur in compound spikes or panicles. However simple these 
capitula appear, they are invariably found to be compound if examined at an early period 
of growth, when the bracts or scales imbricate completely over them, and cover definite 
masses of flowers, representing branches of the inflorescence. Sarcophyte presents 
the most perfect inflorescence, and the only one with a fully branched panicle; it has 
general bracts on the main axis below each ramification, but no partial ones. Lophophy- 
tum presents the next degree of perfection in inflorescence: each bract is a very highly 
developed peltate organ, subtending a cylindrical branch of the main axis, which is covered 
with flowers :—a modification of this arrangement is found in all the Helosidee, and in 
Cynomorium, where the bracts are peltate and imbricate in a young state, and either 
peltate and attached by their margins, or scattered, in the older state. 
In Ombrophytum the flowers are whorled round the pedicel of a very complete peltate 
bract, and in most Balanophore the female flowers are similarly arranged round a very 
-rudimentary clavate one. In Thonningia and Langsdorffia the female flowers have no 
bracts whatever, and the male flowers very rudimentary ones. Mystropetalon, the most 
highly developed genus in many other respects, has a trifid bract under each flower, and 
no general bracts on the capitulum. : 
Articulated filaments occur abundantly over the whole ‘surface of the capitula of most 
of the Helosideæ, and are probably rudimentary female flowers: their similarity to the: 
paraphyses of Musci has been dwelt upon by Griffith, who (with some other authors) 
attaches great systematic value to this resemblance. These anomalous organs will be 
described under the respective species: analogous ones may be seen in the capitulum of . 
Langsdorfia, and between the male flowers of some Balanophore. For further structural 
particulars respecting the inflorescence, the individual genera must be consulted. | 
The periods of inflorescence present some remarkable anomalies in Balanophore, and — 
especially in the Helosideæ with bisexual capitula; a curious phenomenon, first observed 
by Richard (fully described by him under Z. guyanensis), which necessitates the agency 
of dichogamy, or the fertilization of the ovaria of one capitulum or plant by the males of 
another. | 
Some genera are constantly diecious; as Langsdorffia, Thonningia, Rhopaloenemis, — 
Sarcophyte, Lophophytum, and some Balanophoræ; though in B. dioica, which is one 
of the most constantly so of that genus, I have occasionally found male capitula on 
the same rhizomes with female ones. The inflorescence is bisexual or monæcious, with 
the male flowers below, in some Balanophore : the male flowers are above in Lophophy- 
tum and Mystropetalon, and the two sexes are irregularly mixed in Helosidee and Cyno- 
morwm, which latter occasionally presents also hermaphrodite flowers, 
Flowers.—These present many gradations of perfection, both in the male and female. _ 
They are most fully developed in Mystropetalon, and the least so in the female of Bala- 
nophora and the male of Lophophytum. 
The perianth, when present, is almost invariably 
male flowers : in those of Lophophytum it is who 
