288 NEPENTHACEiE. [Diclinous Exogens. 



have formerly coincided with those Botanists. But the adherent ovary of Birth- 

 worts, their highly developed calyx, axile placentation, and hermaphrodite flowers, 

 are serious difficulties in the way of a close contact between them and Nepenths, 

 unless the peculiar structure of the wood, the consideration of which I for the 

 present abandon, should lead to the final establishment of the Class of Homogens, 

 in which case Nepenths and Bii-thworts will be brought mto contact, or at least 

 a near neighbom-hood. For the present, the true position of this Order must be re- 

 garded as an undetermined point. In the meanwhile it may be observed, that to 

 station it in the Euphorbial AlUance will be to \iolate as few affinities as by taking any 

 other com'se. Its points of agi'eements are its unisexual flowers, albuminous seeds, m- 

 complete floral envelopes, and cUmbing habit. Its great disagreement consists in its 

 indefinite seeds, and peculiar woody structure, which is, however, in some respects 

 without example. 



There is a good account of the germination of Nepenthes, in Jameson's Journal for 

 April 1830, from which it may be concluded that the long loose tunic of the seed is in- 

 tended to act at first as a buoy, to float the seed upon the surface of the water, and 

 afterwards as an anchor, to keep it fast upon the mud imtil it can have struck root. 



Natives of swamps in the East Indies and Chma. 



Properties imknown. The water contained m the unopened pitcher of a plant which 

 flowered in the Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, was fomid by Dr. Turner « to emit, while 

 boiling, an odour hke baked apples, from containing a trace of vegetable matter, and to 

 yield minute crystals of superoxalate of potash on being slowly evaporated to dryness." 



GENUS. 

 Nepenthes, L. 



Phyllamphora, Lour. 



Numbers. Gen. 1. Sp. 6 ?. 



SarraceniacecB ? 

 Position. — Euphorbiaceee?. — Nepenthace^.— — — * 

 Aristolochiacece? 

 Menispcrmacece ? 



