Coscinium] flora indica. 177 



Tribus I. CosciNiEiE. 



Petala sepalis majora, parum imbricata. Albumen irregulariter runri- 

 natum. Radicula supera, a hilo remota. Cotyledones magnae, patentim 

 divaricatse. 



1. COSCINIUM, Colebrooke. 



Pereiria, Lindl. 



Sepala 6, rotundata, bractea 1 conformi stipata. ^ Petala 3, sepalis 

 majora, patentia, elliptica, sestivatione parum imbricata. Mas. Sta- 

 mina 6, exteriora (petalis alterna) libera, interiora ad medium mona- 

 delpha. Filamenta cylindrica ; anthera adnata?, ovales, exteriores uni- 

 loculares, interiores didymse biloculares. Fcem. Stamina 6, abortiva. 

 Ovaria 3-6, subglobosa, stylis subfilatis reflexis. Drupa globosae, 



carnosa?. Putamen 



iiim 



spongiosum continens ; pedicello osseo basi putaminis inserto. Semen 

 externe visum subglobosum, intus cavum et circa processum condyli- 

 formem convolutum. Testa tenuis, lsevis. Albumen oleosum, carnosum, 

 hinc (quo latere hilum spectat) plicis podospermii vel membranse exte- 

 rioris seminis ruminatum. Embryo fere rectus ; radicula parva cylin- 

 drica supera, apicem drupse spectans. Cotyledones tenuissimaj, rotun- 

 datae, margine irregulares, divaricate, undulatre, secundum Gsertner 

 foraminibus crebris perforata;, vel fide Miers profunde sinuato-laci - 

 niata?.— Frutices alte scandentes, petiolis cylindricis basi et apice mcras- 

 satis, foliis amplis palminerviis, junioribus saltern peltatis, flonbus in ca- 

 pitula globosa dense congestis. 



The genus Coscinium differs so much from the rest of the Order in the compa- 

 ratively large size of its petals, and in the structure of the seed, as to deserve to 

 be distinguished as a separate tribe. The radicle, if Geertner's plate may be relied 



_ 7 are 



iuternal 



putamen. which occupies the hollow in the middle of the seed. 



The structure of the drupe of Coscinium is unfortunately as yet so imperfectly 

 understood, that we cannot express ourselves decidedly regarding it. the nutri- 

 ent vessels pass into the seed through two canals, the external apertures of which 

 are conspicuous on the putamen, one on each side of the hiliun. Gsertner repre- 

 sents and describes the woody process which rises from the hilum as forming an 

 integral portion of the seed, and as being gradually broken up into plates, wtac* 

 penetrate into the substance of the albumen. Mr. Miers, on the other hand, thinks 

 that the condyloid process is quite distinct from the membra ne *hich h*»*j «£ 

 which gives off the plates by which the albumen is ruminated. The latter, struct., 

 is undoubtedly more analogous to that of the rest of the Order ; but it appears to us 

 that the view of Gartner is more in accordance with the specimens we have exam, ucd, 

 of which, however, one only was in a good state, all the others being decayed The 

 putamen is very thick and hard, and is composed of columnar fibres, extending through 

 its whole thickness, like those of the middle coat of the seed of the nn meg In- 

 deed, if the analogy of structure to other Menitpermaeem, especially in the tubular 

 canals which penetrate through the putamen, were not quite opposed to such a new, 

 wc should be inclined to suggest the possibility of the woody coat of Cosnmum being 

 »n integument of the seed, and its internal process analogous to the plates (gradually 

 branching from the chalaza) by which the albumen of nutmegs is ruminated. 



Z A 



