206 Mr. J. IMiers on the genus Aptaiulra. 



we must associate otlier plants in Olacacea, merely because they 

 have an ovarium constructed in a somewhat similar manner. 

 The existence of an inner whorl of petals^ the union of the 

 stamens into a thick columnar tube, the anthers imbedded ex- 

 trorsely in an annular and almost globular fleshy connective, the 

 peculiar mode of the dehiscence of the anther-valves, the curioiis 

 structure of the pollen, the absence of the deep hypogynous disk 

 and of the thick epigynous gland, are points quite at variance 

 with all we find in the Olacacece, where we meet with nothing in 

 the smallest degree analogous to the very peculiar featm'cs that 

 mark Aptanclra. However striking its points of appi'oach, it is 

 evident that this genus cannot be referred to that family, although 

 its position in the system may be proximate. 



There is yet another group of plants offering some features of 

 resemblance, to which it is worth while to direct our attention ; 

 I mean the Cunellacea of Von Martins, the characters and real 

 affinities of which are yet too imperfectly understood. It con- 

 sists of three genera, all with their stamens united into a tube, 

 as in Aptandra, and with extrorse anthers, although the cells are 

 said to open longitudinally, but they vary greatly in their other 

 characters, and evidently belong to three several families. Pla- 

 tonia is clearly referable to the Guttif'erce, with which it agrees 

 in having opposite leaves ; Canella probably has a considerable 

 affinity with the Humiriacece ; and Cinnamodendron (the Canella 

 axillaris, Mart, Nov. Act. 12. tab. 3) may perhaps be found to be 

 allied to Aptandra, for besides its sjmantherous stamens, it has a 

 similar whorl of petaloid scales intenening between the staminal 

 tube and the petals. 



Hormhuckia has also a small truncated calyx, a corolla of six 

 petals in two series, the inner smaller and carinated, extrorse 

 stamens, and a 3-locular (?) ovarium, with a single ovule in each 

 cell. 



Much will depend upon the structure of the fruit and seed be- 

 fore any final decision can be made in regard to the nearest affi- 

 nities oi Aptandra, but taking the above-mentioned facts into con- 

 sideration, we may draw the legitimate inference, that if, from its 

 indubitably peculiar characters, it be considered as the type of a 

 yet unknown group of plants [Aptandraceee], it may probably 

 find its station, in the arrangement of Endlicher, following the 

 Berberidacece, taking its rank among that portion of the polype- 

 talous ThalamiflorcB, with the segments of the corolla often in 

 more than one series, and with an ovarium composed of two or 

 more united carpels, and with one or few ovules attached to a 

 placenta of somewhat gynophorous origin. It would thus stand at 

 no great distance from the Menispennaceie, which it resembles in 

 its synantherous stamens with extrorse anthers and scale-like 



