62 Linnean Society. [March 17, 



subulatis erectis instructis. Ovarium gibboso-3-gonum, 1-loculare, 

 placentis 3 parietalibus. Capsula 1-locularis, latere unico angulo su-. 

 periore tantum dehiscens. Semina scobiformia, numerosissima, testa 

 reticulata nucleo vix excedente. 



Plantae (brasilienses) rhizocarpecs, radice fihrosd. Caulis simplex, suh- 

 flexuosus, erectus, albescens. Folia sessilia, hracteiformia, erecta, aut 

 adpressa. Inflorescentia dichotome spicata, pauciflora, fiorihus fia~ 

 vescenti-albidis, basibracteatis, cum pedicellis brevissimis summo abrupte 

 declinatis geniculatis. 



1. Cymbocarpa refracta. — Monte Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro. 



STEMOPTERA. 



PeriarJhium ovario adnatum, supra liberum, subinfundibuliforme : faiice 

 turgida sacculis 3 interioribus aucta : limbo 6-partito, laciniis acutis, 

 sestivatione marginibus induplicatis, 3 alternis brevioribus. Stamina 

 3, fauci adnata : filamentis complanatis, e margine sacculorum orienti- 

 bus bifurcatis, ramulo singulo antherifero alato. Ovarium turbinatum, 

 1-loculare, placentis 3 parietalibus. Stylus longitudine staminum. Stig- 

 mata 3, recurvata, apice glandulifera. Capsula 1-locularis, polysperma, 

 subtrivalvis, apice 3-fisso dehiscens. Placentce 3, parietales. Semina 

 numerosissima, scobiformia, testa nucleo vix excedente, reticulata, are- 

 olis elongatis obliqu^ dispositis. 



Plantae (brasilienses) rhizocarpecs, radice fibrosa. Caulis erectus, subdi- 

 chotome ramostis, ramis subflexiiosis, pallidis, subpurpurascentibus. Fo- 

 lia pauca, sessilia, erecta, bracteiformia, pallida. Inflorescentia termi- 

 nalis, unijlora. Flores cceteris majores, ebracteati, purpurascentes, Ap- 

 terise Nutt. hand absimiles. 



1 . Stemoptera lilacina. — In uliginosis ad Serra dos Orgaos Prov. Rio de 

 Janeiro. 



All the species are described at length in the paper, and their cha- 

 racters are further illustrated by drawings, with details of the parts 

 of fructification. The author remarks, that upon the same principle 

 that Apostasiacece have been separated from Orchidee, and Xyridece 

 from Restiacece, these plants ought to constitute an order distinct 

 from Burmanniacea ; but the difference between the unilocular cap- 

 sule with parietal placentation and the trilocular capsule with axile 

 placentation, which at first sight seems to offer a wide and well- 

 founded distinction, appears of less value when we consider that 

 the extensive order Gentianeee presents similar differences, toge- 

 ther with every possible gradation of transition from one extreme 

 to the other. He therefore inclines to the \'iew of preserving all 



