28 DR. J. D. HOOKER ON THE STRUCTURE AND 



number are extra-tropical; as Cynomorkmi, which attains lat. 41° N. in Europe; the two 

 Mystropefala and Sarcophyte, which inhalnt South Africa; Relosis c/uyanensis, which 

 extends to the La Plata district; and the North Indian species of JBalanophoj-a and Hho- 



palociieniis. 



The o'enus Balanophora is confined to India, and the Malay and western Polynesian 

 islands : it extends from the N.W. Himalaya at Simla throughout that mountain-range to 

 the eastward, thence to the Khasia Mountains, Bm-ma, and the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, 

 Java, the N.E. coast of New Holland, as far east as the New Hebrides ; it is also found in 

 the Indian Peninsula, Ceylon, and the Philippine Islands, and no doubt occurs in Borneo 

 and New Guinea. The Selosidece, with the exception of the Indian Rhopolocnemis, are 

 confined to the American continent and islands, where they extend from Jamaica and 

 Mexico to the Pampas. Of the Langsdorffim, two species are American, and one [Thon- 

 ningia) is found on the west coast of tropical Africa. The Loplwphytece, as far as is 

 known, aU inhabit tropical South America, and are chiefly confined to South Brazil, Peru, 

 and New Grenada. 



The individual species of tliis Order have often exceedingly wide ranges, thougli some 

 iiXQ extremely local. The most conspicuous examples of extensive distribution are : Cyno- 

 morlitm coccinenm, which ranges from the Canary Islands to the mouths of the Nile, viz. 

 through 3000 miles of longitude ; Rhopalocnemis is found in lat. 27° N. in East Nepal and 

 Sikkim, in the Khasia Mountains of East Bengal, and in Java, under the Equator, places 

 no less than 3000 miles apart ; Balanophora dioica, which has probably a still wider 

 range ; and B.fnitgosa, which is foimd both in East Australia and Tauna, places separated 

 by 1500 miles of ocean. In the new world, Langsdorffia hypogaa has been found in the 

 province of Oaxaca in Mexico, lat. 18° N., by Prof. Liebmann, in the mountains of New 

 Grenada by Mr. Purdie, at Bio de Janeiro by many collectors, and in the Pampas by 

 Mr. Miers (lat. 34° S.) ; having thus a range of 52 degrees of latitude, and 4000 miles in 

 a straight line. 



I do not find that the widely distributed species vary much according to the distance 

 they spread ; specunens from the most distant localities often being absolutely identical ; 

 and all being very constant to one form : on the other hand, some of the most local species 

 as well as some of the most widely spread are excessively variable. As a general rule, 

 the most imperfect forms vary most in general characters, especially Balanophora, the 

 individual sj^ecies of which difi'er in the size of theii' parts, in the form of their scales, their 

 rhizome and their capitula, in the capitula being unisexual or bisexual, and in the size, 

 form and number of the parts of the flower. Helosidece again vary extremely in size and 

 habit, but much less in the capitulum. Langsdorffice are rather variable, and Cynomo- 

 rium is conspicuously so. 



