18 Mr. Brown, on the Proteacecs of Jussieu. 



gaged by the plants of this family, the species in that continent 

 being both numerous and with difficulty reducible to established 

 genera : I there observed the following facts concerning them, 

 all of which I have, since my return to England, confirmed by 

 the examination of different species of the same tribe. 



The observations of Jacquin on this subject being generally 

 known, it must be unnecessary to enter into a minute description 

 of those organs which are well exhibited by his figures in every 

 respect, except as to the origin of the supposed antherae. 



If a flower bud of any plant of this family, while scarcely half 

 the size it attains immediately before expansion, be carefully 

 examined, it will be found that the polleniferous sacs, as they 

 are termed by Jacquin and his followers, in which they suppose 

 the antherae to be merely immersed, are really the organs by 

 Avhich the foecundating matter is secreted : for at this period they 

 are perfectly closed, and consequently all communication cut off 

 between the stigma and their contents now consisting of a turbid 

 fluid or pulpy mass. If the stigma be at the same time observed, 

 the gland-like bodies which originate in its grooved angles are 

 already visible ; but, instead of having the cartilaginous or horny 

 texture which they at length acquire, are as yet semi-fluid, and 

 of hardly a determinate form. Near the base of each side of 

 these grooves a more superficial depression is observable, which, 

 though in some cases extremely short, is in others of considerable 

 length, and generally forms a right angle with the corresponding 

 groove. In these depressions, the processes by which, at a more 

 advanced stage, the contents of the antherae are connected with 

 the stigma, are immersed, and at this period they are found to 

 be semi-fluid. By degrees the glands, as well as their lateral 

 processes, acquire a firmer consistence, and the inferior or outer 

 extremity of each of the processes, being extended beyond its de- 

 pression 



