128 
AROIDE. 
General remarks. 
Houttuynia cordata. In the Suddyah plant each flower is 
subtended by a minute white scale. These scales are in the 
four lowest flowers much developed, and petaloid; forming 
indeed the 4 valved spathe, and pointing out very plainly the 
origin of spaths generally. There is some difficulty in referring 
this plant to any sexual class, and the character of the genus 
still requires remodelling. Three stamina are almost univer- 
sal except in the terminal flower, the ovarium of which is 
surrounded by many stamina, 5 of which generally separate 
with the ovary, but as the remainder are intermixed with 
squamiform bractez, it is natural to suppose that they repre- 
sent several partly abortive male flowers. Thus, it is at once 
seen, that if we look to the terminal flowers alone, we must 
refer Houttuyniz either to Moneecia or Polyandria. I should 
say to the former. 
The third carpellary leaf is invariably situated posticous- 
ly, or next the axis, and its stamen (speaking with reference to 
the hermaphrodite flowers) is invariably adherent to a greater 
extent than the two lateral ones. "The bases of all are persis- 
tent, the remainder rapidly sphacelating even before the anther 
has performed its functions, and subsequently falling off. 
Theovula are antitropous, the stigmata appear deciduous (or 
rather the stigmatiferous portions of the styles), the micro- 
pyle is very conspicuous and is pointed out by a papilla. 'The 
integument is double, the outer one reticulate crustaceous, 
the inner white, very fine membrano-cellular. The embryo is 
inverse, and lodged in the extremity of the albumen remote 
from the hilum: not near the umbilicus. 
HouTTUYNIA. 
Char. Gen. Spatha 4 valvis. Flores bractea suffulti ! plurimi 
inferioresque sumusque hermaphroditi, apicales intermedii 
