NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 71 
resting on the assumed uniformity of those organs. Polypetalous flowered families are 
grouped together in one series; monopetalous ones in another, and apetalous in a third: in 
this order the three meet—Viscum is polypetalous, Loranthus monopetalous, Misodendron 
apetalous, and as if that were not enough, we find in Viscum the first and last combined, the 
male flowers being apetalous, and the female ones polypetalous. 
Jussieu’s and DeCandolle’s systems are based on the structure of the flowers, Polype- 
talous, Monopetalous and Apetalous flowers, forming their primary subclasses. Such being 
the case, it is not to be wondered at that much discrepancy of opinion exists among Botanists, 
as to the place this family should occupy. By most of the Botanists of the present day, it 
has been placed among monopetalous orders, mainly I believe, on account of the perfect 
corolla of Loranthus, the most prominent genus of the order. 
_ Brown, however, with his usual farsighted discrimination, long ago decided that their 
proper place is near Proteacee, an apetalous family; an opinion which is gradually gaining 
ground, as our acquaintance with Thymalaceous orders enlarges, and must ere long be uni- 
versally adopted, as there can be no doubt that the nearest relations of the family are to be 
found in that subclass. Proteaceae, Olacinee, Thymalee and Santalacee, are all more nearly 
allied families than any of those among which they are now generally placed, and all belong 
to that division of the vegetable kingdom, 
Viewed in connection with these families this is a most instructive one, as regards ex- 
isting systems of natural classification of plants, as tending to show that hitherto, probably, 
too much importance has been attached to the form, perfection and relative position of the 
flower, and scarcely enough on the ovarium and its contents ; as it is similarity of the latter 
that furnishes the bond of union by which the genera associated in this family, are held toge- 
ther, notwithstanding the wide discrepancy among their flowers. 
Another cireumstance may be mentioned, as incidentally tending to confirm the rela- 
tionship existing between this order and those mentioned above ; namely, that DeCandolle 
has placed the genus of Schoepfia among Loranthacee, while Mr. Bentham a Botanist of the 
highest attainments, has referred it to Olucinee, an order, on the affinities of which I have 
already offered some remarks, tending to show that it is erroneously placed by DeCandolle 
and his followers, on characters taken from the flowers, but not confirmed by the ovarium 
and fruit. 
I have mentioned at the commencement of these remarks, that the species of this order 
are “ true parasites,” that is, they send their roots into the substance of, and draw their 
nourishment from the proper juices of the plant that bears them. In this respect they are 
unlike epiphites; that is, plants that simply adhere to the bark, but do not penetrate into 
the substance of the plant. Of this description are ‘numerous Orchidee, and Mosses which 
are nourished by moisture obtained from the atmosphere, and retained by the rough and 
porous bark of the trees on which they grow. 
The process of vegetation can be easily obs ved, probably in all kinds of Loran- 
thacer, but certainly in numerous species of Loranthus; all that is required being to take 
mature seed, and stick them by their viseum on any substance. In due time the radicle 
shoots from one end, becomes curved, swells and dilates at the apex, and attaches itself to 
