OF BATIDEÆ, CALLITRICHACEÆ, VOCHYSIACEÆ, AND CASSYTHEÆ. 413 
of petals in Daphnacee; and it is doubtless among the polypetalous families that the 
more immediate relations of Vochysiaceæ are to be sought for,—the vicinity of Rosacee, 
Leguminosæ, and their allies (which are regarded as polypetalous forms of Daphnaceæ 
and Proteaceæ) appearing to be the true station of this family. 
The relation of the Vochysiacee to Ohrysobalanee confirms this view of their aflinities, 
as they may be regarded as differing from Ohrysobalaneæ only in the carpel when single 
being posterior instead of anterior ; for it is on the posterior side of the flower that the 
stamens are deficient in both families, and the calyx in Vochysiaceæ is sometimes so 
nearly regular that the spur is scarcely apparent. 
To the Amygdaleæ they are doubtless equally allied, agreeing with them in the ovules 
when suspended having the raphe next the placenta * ; but as the flowers in this family 
are always regular, the approach between them is less obvious. 
To the Rosaceæ they may be compared in the remarkably convolute æstivation of the 
corolla; to Pomaceæ in the occasionally inferior ovary, the ovules when erect having the 
raphe next the placenta, and in the cotyledons being either flat or convolute; and to 
Calycanthaceæ in the imbrication of the calyx, which occasions the flower-buds to look 
like leaf-buds; and in their large anthers. 
3. Note on Cassytheæ. 
The affinity of this family having been for some time well known to be with the 
Lauracee, I have only to add that it agrees with them in the ovary consisting of a single 
carpel +, as is shown by a furrow on one side of the style, which is also of a paler colour 
(fig. 29), and by the ovule being attached to the same side of the ovary, so as to be in rela- 
tion with the furrow in the style, the ovule being pendulous, not from the apex of the cell, 
but from one side near the apex, as in Lauraceæ (vide Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. vol. xi.). 
The carpel is also variable in its position in nearly the same degree as in the Lauracee, 
being occasionally posterior, and otherwise variable from anterior to lateral; and it agrees 
also with them in the ovule having the raphe dorsal (fig. 29), so that there does not appear 
to be any distinction between them except in parasitism. 
Spee i ith | next the 
* In those genera where the ovules are numerous, they are suspended, amphitropal, with the raphe 
placenta, and therefore the foramen is uppermost. : à 
f The ovary of Sassafras officinale consists of a single carpel (vide Am. Nat. er 2nd I, Eh De de 
sionally, although very rarely, it becomes dicarpous, with an imperfectly bifid et gemis of : TON 
of two ribs on the opposite sides of the ovary, which are alternate with the styles. ; Vat Saanyhes being 
momum, and Tetranthera have also decidedly the appearance of — of Gå carpel ; d aat p 
occasionally dicarpous, makes it probable that Nees v. Esenbeck is right in descri ren — 
when the ovules are two, and attached separately, the ovary would — NM n npe 
