1844.] Linnean Society. 219 



take place between stigmatic surfaces ordinarily distinct, whereby 

 the stigmata so resulting appear to alternate with the styles. In- 

 stances of the former occur in Euhalus ; of the latter in Orobanche, 

 if the author's observations are correct, in Papaveracece, and perhaps 

 in all cases in which the stigmata, being apparently equal in number 

 to the placentae, are said to be opposite to them. 



The succeeding portion of Mr. Griffith's memoir relates to Mystro- 

 petalon, Harv., referred by Sir Wm. J. Hooker to the order Rhizan- 

 theee, group Balanophoreee. Mr. Griffith, on the contrary, who de- 

 scribes the Mystropetalon Thomii from specimens obtained from Mr. 

 Harvey, regards it as a plant sui ordinis, having no relation to any 

 other plant admitted into Rhizanthece except Cynomorium, to which 

 it seems to him to present considerable resemblance in the structure 

 of the stamen and of the female flower. It also offers, he thinks, 

 curious agreements with Loranthacece, and he would at present con- 

 sider it (doubtfully) as the homogeneous- embryo form of that order 

 which he takes to include Proteacete, SantalacecB, &c., and which 

 nearly agrees with Prof. Lindley's alliance Tubiferce. 



Sarcophyte also is described from specimens transmitted by Mr. 

 Harvey. Mr. Griffith regards its affinities as very obscure ; he ob- 

 jects to its being placed either in CytinecB, Cynomoriacece, or Bala- 

 nophore(B, and suggests that on the whole the general tendency of the 

 plant is towards Urticece. 



Mr. Griffith next examines the family of Balanophoreee, and gives 

 distinctive characters of Balanophora, Langsdorffia, Phaocordylis, 

 Helosis and Scyhalium. The following are the characters which he 

 assigns to Balanophora and Phmocordylis : — 



Balanophora, Forst. 



Sexus diclines, rarissime monoclines. Flares masculi bracteati. Perian- 

 thium 3 — 5-sepalum, sestivatione valvatum. Stamina totidem opposita, 

 monadelpha, bilocularia (in unica specie multilocularia). Flores foemi- 

 nei : Ovaria stipitata, receptaculis apice incrassato-glandulosis affixa, 

 nuda. Stylus setaceus, persistans. Stigma inconspicuum. Fructus 

 pistilliformes, sicci. 



Ph.eocordylis, Griff. 



Sexus diclines. Flores masculi ignoti. Flores faeminei : Ovaria in axi 

 sessilia, nuda, pilis paraphysiformibus immixta. Stylus filiformis, ex- 

 sertus, deciduus. Stigma subcapitatum. Fructus compressi (striati) apice 

 subpapillosi. 



Of Balanophora he describes as new five species with the follow- 

 ing characters : — 



B. BuRMANNicA, squamis laxe imbricatis, bracteis truncatis parum cana- 



