202 Mr. J. Miers on the genus Aptaudra. 



petiolata, exstipulata ; inflorescentia dichotome paniculata, ax- 

 illans, multiflora ; pedicelli jiliformes, subumbeUatim aggregati, 

 uniflori ; flores minimi. 



1. Aptandra Spruceana ; — foliis ellipticis, subveflexis, apice su- 

 bito attenuatis, utrinque glabris, subtus punctis minutissimis 

 lentiginosis et pellucidis notatis, raclii nervisque rubentibus ; 

 paniculis folio 3-plo brevioribus, pedicellis gracilibus, subfas- 

 ciciilatis, in fructu valde elongatis et crassioribus ; bracteis 

 linearibus e dichotomiis minutis et caducis. — Fluv. Amazo- 

 nicus circa Obidos (Spruce)*. 



I have little to add to the previous description, except that 

 the leaves are about li inch apart, 4^ inches long, 2\ inches 

 broad, on a reflexed petiole of \ inch in length ; they are thin in 

 texture, with the margin turned back, especially toward the 

 base, somewhat polished above, dull and pale beneath. The in- 

 florescence, about 2 inches long, throws out four or five lateral 

 branches, which are again dichotomously divided, each branchlet 

 having a number of very fine filiform pedicels almost umbellately 

 fasciculated, about 3 or 4 lines long, which subsequently grow 

 to the length of an inch, and probably much longer when the 

 fruit is matured ; the flowers are \^ to 2 lines long, and ^^ of a 

 line in diameter before opening. I may here add an observation 

 relative to the stamen, which has eight equal anther-cells : now 

 as the calyx, corolla and petaloid scales are all 4-merous, it is to 

 be presumed that this staminal organ is composed of four united 

 stamens, each with two anther-cells, placed opposite to the pe- 

 tals, and alternate with the intervening petaloid scales and the 

 teeth of the calyx ; and this is further proved by the fact, that 

 no one anther-cell is exactly opposite to or alternate with the 

 petals, but two cells are situated before each petal. 



From the foregoing details it will be seen that the exact posi- 

 tion of Aptaudra in the system is not easily determinable. At 

 fii'st view, from the very peculiar structure of the stamens, it 

 seems to approach Cissampelos, but independently of other cir- 

 cumstances, one fact, that of a simple biovular ovarium, at once 

 excludes it from the Menispermacea. 



The several families included in the Columniferce of Endlicher, 

 viz. StercuUacece, Bllttneriace^, &c., present the analogy of their 

 filaments being more or less coherent at base into a hypogynous 

 tube ; but there, a portion of the filaments is always free, as are 

 also the anthers, which are very difierently constructed, besides 

 which, the ovarium consists of numerous carpels, united round 



* A representation of this plant, mth generic details, will be given in the 

 'Contributions to Botany, Iconographic and Descri|)tive,' vol. i. plate 1. 



