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lobe, with or without two auricles at the base, and within which the cup of 

 stamens is inserted. The relation it bears, as regards insertion, to the parts 

 which have been already noticed, is very obscure ; it is always opposite the 

 solitary external bractere ; but whether it is anterior with respect to the com- 

 mon axis of inflorescence, or posterior, has not at present been ascertained. 

 The reasons which have been offered for the view here taken of the parts sur- 

 rounding' this body, make it obvious that it must be considered the periantbium. 

 But of this more will be said hereafter. For the present it will be sufficient 

 to remark, that it manifestly bears an intimate relation to the stamens, being 

 obliterated in the same direction and degree as they are. 



" In this view, then, the petaloid segments are considered perfect bractese, 

 the subulate interior processes abortive bracteee, and the fleshy central label- 

 loid body the perianthium. 



" However paradoxical this description of Gilliesia may appear, and how- 

 ever inconclusive the arguments adduced in support of the view we have 

 taken of it may have hitherto been considered, they will probably be found 

 more deserving of attention if compared with a nearly allied plant discovered 

 in Chile, by our friend John Miers, Esq., after whom it has been named. This 

 singular genus forms part of a most valuable and remarkable collection of 

 botanical drawings, which were made by Mr. Miers during his long residence 

 in Chile, and which, it is to be hoped, will, at some future day, be laid before 

 the public. Having been kindly permitted to make use of the drawing and 

 manuscript description of the plant alluded to, we shall endeavour to explain 

 the analogies and relation which exist between it and Gilliesia. 



" In Miersia the bractece are six in number, of which two are interior and 

 four exterior, a still more valid reason against their being segments of a perian- 

 thium. The subulate processes assume a more regular form, and a more con- 

 stant mode of insertion, but still bear no very apparent relation to the bractea? ; 

 and the fleshy labelloid central body is represented by an urceolate six-toothed 

 cup, within the orifice of which six fertile stamens are included. In Miersia, 

 therefore, the perianthium, which was in Gilliesia subject to a certain degree of 

 imperfection, in which the stamens also participated, is in the usual regular form 

 of many Monocotyledones, no irregularity occurring in the stamens. As there 

 can be no doubt of the strict analogy which exists between Gilliesia and Mier- 

 sia in their fructification, and as there can be little doubt that the central body 

 of the latter genus is perianthium, it will follow as a natural consequence, that 

 as the supernumerary appendages of that genus are external with respect to 

 the perianthium, and therefore neither perianthium nor stamens, so also will 

 the analogous appendages of Gilliesia not be perianthium. And the central 

 body having been ascertained to be perianthium, all the parts which surround 

 it will necessarily be bracteae, or modifications of bracteae. 



" The natural affinity of these two genera is extremely obscure ; and till 

 some accurate information can be obtained of the structure of their seeds, 

 it must be a subject of much uncertainty. Even with the requisite informa- 

 tion upon that point, it is not probable that they will be found to bear any 

 very close relation to the other monocotyledonous orders at present known. 

 Then tunicated bulbs, spathaceous inflorescence, and general appearance, 

 place them near Asphodeles?, with some genera of which, especially Muscari 

 and Puschkinia, Miersia at least agrees in the structure of perianthium : but we 

 are acquainted with no genus of Asphodclea; to which the fructification of 

 Gilliesieae can be otherwise compared. If the one-flowered species of Schoenus, 

 in which a single naked flower is surrounded by several imbricated squama?, 

 be admitted as a form of inflorescence analogous to that under consideration, it 

 may perhaps be allowable to carry this comparison yet further, and to suggest 

 an identity of origin and function between the depauperated bractece of Gilliesia 



