1840.] Linnean Society. . ■ 61 



remarkable stamens of the latter genus, nor the habit or singular 

 seeds of Dictyostega. He gives a full description of the charac- 

 ters of his new genera and species, adding at the same time the 

 character of Apteria and of Dr. Blume's two genera, so as to collect 

 all the evidence yet known respecting the order of Burmanniacea, 

 Of the genus Dictyostega he describes three species, which he found 

 in Brazil, to which is to be added a fourth species, discovered by 

 Mr. Schomburgk in British Guiana. 



The following are their characters : — 



DICTYOSTEGA. 



Perianthium tubulosum, ovario adnatum, superne liberum : limbo G-fido, 

 laciniis 3 alternis minoribus. Stamiiia 3 : jtlamentis brevissimis : an- 

 therce loculis disjimctis, transversim debiscentibus. Stylus simplex. 

 Stigmata 3. Capsula 1-locularis, sub 3-valvis, polysperma, apice debi- 

 scens : valvis medio placentiferis. Semina minuta, scobiformia, testa 

 laxa, reticulata, pertranslucida, nucleo quintuple longiore vestita. 



Plantse (brasilienses) rhizocarpece, radice fihrosd, squamis memhranaceis, 

 imbricatis, ciliatis, incanis tectd. Caulis erectus, subjlexuosus, pallide 

 purpurascens, subsolitarius, rarius ramiferus, et tune ramis 1 — 3 

 erectis, alternis, trunco consimilibus. Folia bracteiformia, subsessilia, 

 adpressa. Inflorescentia terminalis, dichotome racemosa, vel subum- 

 bellato-cymosa, florihus purpurascentibus, jiedicellatis. 



1 . D. orobanchioides, caule erecto simplici vel ramifero, racemis geminis, 

 floribus nutantibus unibracteatis, bracteis cum pedicellis alternantibus, 

 capsuM subvalvata ecostata longitudinaliter debiscente. — Monte Corco- 

 vado, Rio de Janeiro. 



2. D. umbellata, caule erecto simplicissimo, foliis erecto-patulis, umbella 

 simplici 6 — 9-flora, floribus erectis, pedicellis basi bracteatis, ovario 

 ecostato. — Serra dos Orgaos, Prov. Rio de Janeiro. 



3. D. eostata, caule erecto simplici, floribus erectis, cyma bibracteatS, pe- 

 dicellis ebracteatis, capsuld evalvi 6-costata apice debiscenti. — Rio de 

 Janeiro. 



4. D. Schomburgkii, caule erecto subsimplici, racemis geminis paucifloris, 

 floribus unibracteatis, bracteis pedicello oppositis, periantbio medio 

 baud constricto, laciniis obtusioribus, capsula 6-costata apice debiscenti. 

 — Guiana. 



CYMBOCARPA. 



Perianthium tubulosum, ovario adnatum, superne liberum : limbo 6-fido, 

 laciniis tribus alternis minoribus. Stamina omnino Dictyostegce. 

 Stylus simplex. Stigmata 3-loba, lobis gibboso-rotundatis, cornubus 2 



