338 Linnean Society. [June 20, 



within a fleshy arillus is seen to extend from the base to the apex of 

 the seed, and is free from the testa ; in the other tribes the testa is 

 thinner, and enveloped in a thicker fleshy, or more pulpy arillus, has 

 a large hilum upon its ventral face, the raphe being short, less dis- 

 cernible, imbedded and lost amidst the numerous branching nervures 

 conspicuously extending over its surface. The author gives as an 

 example of this development, the analysis of the seed of Lamprophyl- 

 lum Imtnm, which he examined during his residence in Brazil : this 

 forms the type of a new genus distinct from Garcinia, comprising 

 numerous South American species, among them the Calophyllum 

 Calaba of Linnaeus, and others heretofore associated with Garcinia 

 and Calophyllum. Here the fruit is a small drupe containing gene- 

 rally twc, or by abortion a single seed, about the size of a hazel-nut, 

 which is enveloped in mucilaginous pulp: the testa is thin and 

 brittle, marked by numerous nervures branching from a large ventral 

 hilum, and it contains a solid fleshy nucleus, exhibiting in the apex 

 a very minute prominent nipple in a small hollow a little below the 

 summit of the ventral face : near the base, somewhat on the dorsal 

 side, is seen a green shining speck, exactly like that seen in the seed 

 of the ClusiecE ; the body of the nucleus is solid, of a pale sulphur 

 colour, filled with numerous ducts or cells that exude a viscous juice 

 when cut : a slender caulicular process, like that described in the 

 ClusiecB, is seen somewhat oblique with the axis, one of its extre- 

 mities terminating in the nipple, the other in the basal speck just 

 described, the latter being without doubt the germinating point of 

 the root, the minute apical nipple being the plumule, the main body 

 of the nucleus forming a gigantic radicle, and the cotyledons at first 

 sight appearing to be wanting ; but on examining the minute nipple- 

 shaped process under a strong lens, this is observed to be formed of four 

 diminutive imbricated scales, surrounding a central prominent point, 

 which is concealed by the two inner and larger scales; the two outer 

 decussating leaflets, thus separated from each other, are smaller, 

 shorter, and placed right and left of the ventral face, as in the coty- 

 ledons of the ClusiecE ; from this circumstance, and from their com- 

 missure being directed to the ventral face, the author infers from 

 analogy, that these outer scales are the true cotyledons of the em- 

 bryo, notwithstanding their minuteness. Generally, in exogenous 

 plants, the want of cotyledons indicates the future absence of leaves 

 in the plants produced from the growth of such seeds. In the 

 ClusiacecE, however, wliere the floral structure is of the highest order 

 of development, belonging frequently to the largest trees of tropical 

 forests, with copious foliage, large fleshy leaves, and rich in muci- 



