368 Dr. Smith's Account of Brunonia. 



In arenosis maritimis Novje Ilollandiae. 



Ai Fine Port, just within the tropic, on the east coast &f New 



Holland, flowering in August 1802. Mr. Brown. 



Forma omnin^ pnrcedentis, Tit folia numerosiora, angustiora, 

 undique sericea, pilis arctc adprcssis. CapittUum priori simil- 

 limum, sed apices calycis interioris dcnudati, subexserti, colorati,, 

 obtusiusculi. 



The genus under consideration is, as INIr. Brown remarks, ex- 

 ceedingly interesting, on account of its apparent relationship ta 

 several very different natural orders, and the great difficulty of 

 referring it to any one in particular. Its discoverer is inclined ta 

 place it between the Campanulacece and Cori/mbifercc of Jussieu,. 

 thoutrh it overturns the artificial characters of both orders, having 

 a superior germen. But it accords with the latter in the very 

 important circumstance of the upright embryo, and precisely in 

 the number, form, texture, and connexion of its stamina and a7i~ 

 therce, \\h\ch are altogether those of a true syngenesious flower. 

 Its stigma on the other hand bears- an exact resemblance to some 

 of the Campanulacea, as Goodenia, Scavola, Velleia, Sec. and is. 

 unlike every thing else in nature. For this reason, and for the 

 sake of its germen superum, which is the case with some of these» 

 as Vellein, Mr. Brown was disposed to place it at the end of this 

 order, bordering upon Syngenesice. 



On considering the above remarks, assisted by dried specimens, 

 I have presumed to suggest that Brunonia may perhaps belong 

 to Dipsacece, and Mr. Brown in reply informs me that this idea 

 had not entirely escaped him. 1 was led to it by the general 

 aspect of the plants, and by a suspicion of Jussieu *, that the 



* See Adanson and Gsertner on this subject. 



exterior 



