OF BALANOPHORE^. 33 



II. Cynomoritjm, Mich. 



(Tab. I. A.) 



1. Ctnomorium coccineum, Mich. — Ad citationes evulgatas adde, linn. Amoen. Acad, 

 iv. 351. t. 2 ; Webb, Flor. Ins. Canar. iii. 431 ; WeddeU in Ann. Sc. Nat. s6r. 3. 

 xiv. p. 176. 1. 11. 



Though this curious plant has received so much illustration from many able botanists, 

 there are still some points in its structure which are little known ; and there are points 

 in Tiinnaeus's description in the 'Amoenitates Academicse,' which have, I believe, escaped 

 most subsequent observers. 



The geographical range is very remarkable : it extends from the Canary Islands to the 

 Levant ; i. e. over fully fifty degrees, or 3000 mUes of longitude. I have examined speci- 

 mens from its extreme eastern and western limits ; namely, from Lancerotte and from 

 the delta of the Nile ; and I have compared these with others from various intermediate 

 localities, as Oran, Malta, Sardinia, S. Spain, and Sicily; and I have foiind no traces of any 

 differences that suggest the propriety of establishing even varieties. It is also found in 

 Etruria, lat. 41° N. (its northern limit), Lampedusa, and Timis according to Linnaeus. 



Cynomorkmi is not singular amongst Balanophorece in this wide distribution ; though 

 it is more local and scarce than any of its congeners which occupy an equally extensive 

 area. It is the only species known to inhabit a dry cKmate and soil, and is no less 

 remarkable for deUghtiag in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea, and growing in 

 saUnas, and often on saline plants (Linn.). Mr. Webb informs us (Hist. Ins. Canar. Bot. 

 vol. iii. p. 431) that it is eaten in the island of Lancerotte. 



In a young state the lower part of the peduncle is remarkably distinct from the upper ; 

 it is broader, fusiform, and covered with short, broad, acuminate, imbricating, spirally 

 arranged scales (weU shown in Micheli's plate), giving it a polygonal appearance : these 

 scales are much less conspicuous in the old plant, and are probably very deciduous ; 

 whence the discrepancy that Hichard remarks between his Egyptian specimens and 

 Micheli's figure. The lower portion of this contracts suddenly at the point of union with 

 the root-stock, and there is, I believe, a well-developed rhizome ; but I have no complete 

 specimens of it. The parasitism consists in an intimate organic adhesion between a small 

 surface of the cellular tissue of the Cynomorium, and the wood of the root on which it 

 grows ; but no vasciilar tissue (at any rate in the old state) unites the latter with the 

 parasite. 



The vascular system (represented by linger, Ann. Wien. Mus. ii. t. 5. f. 32) consists 

 of many bundles irregularly scattered through the peduncle and capituliim ; form- 

 ing waving lines, but never crossing or resembling the endogenous type in structure or 

 ai'rangement. These, in a transverse section, are seen to consist of two kinds of vessels ; 

 namely, 1. internally of a small bundle of deKcate cylindrical or angular white tubes with 

 transverse marks or bands ; 2. a broader dark external tissue which in a transverse 

 section appears cellular, and in a longitudinal one is foimd to consist of many series of 

 linear, stiperimposed, oblong cells, regidarly placed, and aU terminating at the same plane, 

 thus gi\'ing a barred appearance to the tissue ; the contents of these are aU highly colom-ed. 



VOL, XXII. P 



