98 MR. MIERS ON SEVERAL INSTANCES OF ANOMALOUS DEVELOPMENT 
of the seeds near the summit of the cells. Here we have the most positive proof of the 
normal structure of the whole family, and this fact ought to be held in view in those 
cases which ordinarily occur, as in Stemonurus, where one of the cells has become oblite- 
ial abortion. 
vette who has given us the details of Urandra, has had the advantage of 
examining the fruit in a living state, and describes it to be a somewhat fleshy drupe with 
a subligneous putamen, its solitary seed consisting of an embryo formed of two small coty- 
ledons and a superior terete radicle loosely seated in the upper part of a longitudinal cleft 
or cell in a large albumen, which is thus nearly divided into two almost equal plates, by the 
intervention of two cellular strata that line this cavity, and whose margins nearly reach the 
testa on every side. This exactly corresponds with what I have observed in Stemonurus, and 
the same features are confirmed by Dr. Wight in his ‘Icones, under Stemonurus ( Gomphan- 
dra) polymorphus, where they are well delineated in plate 954. figs. 11 & 12, and where the 
chink above mentioned is shown distinctly in fig. 13. Mr. Thwaites examined the texture 
of the nucleus of Urandra under the microscope, and he describes the albumen to consist _ 
of cells, radiating from the more central tissue to the periphery of the seed; he states 
that the two strata lining its cavity are formed of cells similar to those of the albumen, 
but differing in containing no amylaceous granules: he considers them to be organically 
connected with the albumen, but I succeeded most certainly in separating them as easily 
as the integuments, and still preserve them in this state. At the time I published my 
Monograph of the Icacinacee, I had been able to examine only a single drupe of 
Stemonurus ; but I was fortunate enough afterwards to obtain another seed, through the 
kindness of the late Major Champion, which I analysed, and found that a portion of the 
embryo, in the first instance, had been partially eaten by a small insect, then observed 
within the cavity, so that the real cotyledons were gone, and I found a portion of the 
radicle, situated in the manner I had described, in the upper part of the axis of the 
albumen, and placed at one extremity of the two thin membranaceous strata described by 
Mr. Thwaites. I naturally concluded, by analogy, that these were the cotyledons; they 
occupied the same position, and were about the size of the foliaceous cotyledons I have 
delineated in Mappia fætida, and as these are figured by Dr. Wight (Icon. 955. figs. 10 - 
& 11) under Stemonurus Fetidus. In my second analysis, made soon after the publi- 
cation of my Memoir on Stemonurus, I discovered the embryo entire, with small coty- 
ledons, just as Mr. Thwaites has shown them; my attention was now, therefore, drawn to - 
the consideration of the nature of the two membranaceous strata, well described by that 
botanist. The result of this examination, and my correction of the form of the embryo, 
would consequently have been given in the forthcoming volume of my ‘ Contributions,’ 
where the details of Stemonurus and all other genera of the Icacinacee are figured. I 
sm, however, glad of this opportunity of rectifying my previous description, and of adding 
à drawing of my analysis of the seed. 
Another cireumstance mentioned by Mr. Thwaites calls for observation. In Stemonurus 
the albumen 9 f the seed is covered by the ordinary delicate membranaceous inner integu- 
ment, and this again is invested by a very thin testa, which is intimately agglutinated to 
it, and which is marked by fine hexagonoid reticulations. The raphe, prominent upon 
