148 Mr. BnoArN on some remarkable Deviations 



In the specimens of a plant lately sent from Brazil by Mr. Sel- 

 low, I observe a similar economy. In tins case tlie ovarium, which 

 is orio-inally unilocular witli five parietal placentae, soon after fe- 

 cundation opens regularly into five equal foliaceous valves, to the 

 inner surface of each of which an indefinite number of ovula are 

 attached. 



The genus Eesecla, whose capsule opens at top at a very early 

 period, may be considered as atibrding another instance, though 

 much less remarkable, of the same anomaly. And it is possible 

 this may be the real structure in certain cases of which a very difi 

 ferent view has been taken. 



In the instances of naked seeds now given, the bursting of the 

 pericarpium precedes the distinct formation of the embryo, while 

 tlie proper coats of the seed remain entire till after its separation 

 from the parent plant, and germination has commenced. 



It may not be uninteresting to contrast this economy with that 

 -of the Mangroves and other plants of tropical countries, which 

 grow on the shores, and within the influence of the tide. In many 

 t^f these the embryo, long before the seed loses its original attach- 

 ment, acquires a very considerable size; and the first effect of this 

 unusual development is the rupture, in most cases succeeded by 

 the complete absorption or disappearance, of the proper integu- 

 ment of the seed. In some instances tlie development proceeds 

 still further, and the pericarpium itself is perforated by the embryo, 

 which, while preserving its connexion with the parent plant, often 

 attains the length of from eighteen inches to two feet. This hap- 

 pens in R/iizophora and Bruguiera, or the Mangroves properly so 

 called. In some of the spurious Mangroves, as Avicennia and 

 JEgiceras, a lesser degree of development takes place, and in ge- 

 neral their pericarpia remain entire till they have dropped from 

 the tree. In both cases the final cause of the economy is sufii- 



ciently 



