Linncean Society. 326 



Stamina 4, in androphorum carnosum prominulum feie sessilia, laciniis 

 alternis opposita ; jilamenta brevissima ; anthera 4-loculares, peltatas, 

 apice line& transversa bivalvatim hiantes ; pollen sphaericum simplex. 

 PistiUi rudimentum nullum. Fern. Stamina nulla. Ovaria plurima, 

 (50-60) densissime in gyneecium carnosum liberum aggregata, obovata, 

 1-locularia ; ovulo unico erecto. Stylus fere basilaris, ovario 3-7-pl6 

 longior, subulato-filiformis, celluloso-articulatus, apice subobtuso, stig- 

 mate inconspicuo. Carpidia plurima, utricularia, obovata, breviter 

 stipitata, structure omnino Sciaphilis. — Herba Ceijlonica, pusilla, hya- 

 lina ; rhizomate fibrosa ; caule simplici, erecto ; tbliis brncteiformibus 

 alternis, ovatis, acatis, venis destitutis, celluloso-rugosis , spica terminali ; 

 floribus pedicellatis, scepissime dioicis, interdum monoids, et tunc supe- 

 rioribus S inferioribus '^ ; pedicellis unifloris, basi bracteat/s. 



Hyalisma ianthina, Champ, in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. vii. p. 466 cum 

 icone. ^ 



Hab. in Insula Ceylon, props Galle, in sylvis humidis. 



To these plants Mr. Miersadds the following, described from spe- 

 cimens recently sent from Park by Mr. Spruce. 



SoRiDiuM, Miers. 

 Char. Gen. Flores monoici. Perianthium in utroquesexn 4-partitum ; 

 laciniis ovatis, acutis, patentibus, celluloso-rugosis, sestivatione valvatis, 

 persistentibus. Masc. Stamina 2, supra discum minimum inclusum 

 Fere sessilia, laciniis alternis opposita ; _^/a?«e?i/a brevissima; anthercB 

 transversim elongatse, compressse, 4-loculares, rima verticali longitudi- 

 naliter 2-valvatim septicide hiantes; pollen globosum, irregulariter sub- 

 trivalvatim rumpens. Ovaria plurima, in capitulum dense aggregata, 

 obovata, sessilia, 1-locularia ; ovulo solitario erecto. 6'/^te« lateralis, 

 fere basilaris, pilis longis clavatis plumosus. Stigma obconicum, trun- 

 catum, piloso-plumosum. Carpidia plurima, baccata, radiatim aggre- 

 gata, obovatn, stylo persistent! basilari notata, monosperma. Peri- 

 carpium siccum, subcoriaceum. Semen ovale; testa colorata nucleoque 

 omnino Sciaphila. — Herba Amazonica, in uliginosis umbrosis indigena, 

 hyalina ; rhizomate substolonifero, radiculas hinc inde emitlente ; caule 

 simplici erecto ; foliis paitcis, bracteiformibus, alternis, ovatis, acutis, 

 venis destitutis, celluloso-rugosis ; floribus spicaiis, superioribus 3 , infe- 

 rioribus^; pedunculis l-fioris, basi bracteatis. 



SoHiDiuM Spruceanum, Miers. 



Hab. prope Para Brasilise, ad Caripi, in sylvis umbrosis. 



Having concluded the description of these remarkable plants, 

 which he gives in much detail, A'Ir. Miers proceeds to observe on 

 their affinities. They evidently belong to one common group with 

 Triuris, which the author originally suggested would form the type 

 of a distinct order (Triuriacea), subsequently adopted by Dr. Gard- 

 ner, under the name of Triuracece. He first dismisses without hesi- 

 tation the- hypothesis that they have any relationship to Menisper- 

 macea or Smilacea, as suggested by Dr. Gardner with reference to 

 Hexuris ; or to any section of UrticecB, to which Sciaphila was re- 

 ferred by Dr. Blume, and in which he was followed by Endlicher 

 and Gardner. He commences his investigation by calling particular 

 attention to their habit as plants destitute of real leaves ; composed 

 of little more than cellular tissue ; void of green colour, of fibres and 

 of ducts ; and furnished with a seed not merely acotyledonous, but 



