212 DICTYOGENS. [Dictyogens. 



in Strelitzia, or even in tlie arborescent Aloes, and when it does become 

 evident it is unaccompanied by any peculiarity of tlie foliage. But, in the 

 perennial stem of Dictyogens the bundles are wliat tbis Anatomist calls 

 unlimited, tbat is to say, tbey go on growing for years together as in 

 Exogens. 



The principal difficulty about admitting the class of Dictyogens seems to 

 me to consist in the small number of genera and species which it compre- 

 hends, and in the absence of any evidence as to the stem of Triurids or even 

 Parids having the anatomical structure here assigned to it. These objec- 

 tions are undoubtedly deserving of serious consideration ; but on the other 

 hand it must be borne in mind that the plants collected under Dictyogens 

 agree well with each other, and ill with any alliances of Endogens. 



The Natm-al Orders of Dictyogens are poor in species, and can hardly 

 be considered as estabhshed on recognised characters. The following are 

 the distinctions, as far as they can be at present pointed out. 



Natural Orders of Dictyogens. 

 Flowers $ ? . Perianth free. Carpels 00, one-seeded ... 67. Triuridace^. 

 Floioers d?. Perianth adherent. Carpels consolidated^ several- '\q^ Dioscoreace^ 



seeded J * 



Floioers $^. Carpels several, quite consolidated. PlacentcBaxile.\Qg Smilace^ 



Flowers hexapetaloideotcs J * 



Floioers . Carpels several, quite consolidated. Placentce parie- \ -q PHiLEsiArE^ 



tal. Flowers 3-6-petaloideous J " 



Flowers . Carpels several, half consolidated. Placentce axile. 1 - j Trilliace^ 



Flowers ^-petaloideous J ' 



Floioers §. Carpels solitary, simple, many-seeded, with long-^^^^ Roxburghiace^ 

 stalked anatropal seeds and a basal placenta J ' 



