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An Attempt to ascertain Characters of the Botanical Alliances. 

 By Sir Edward Ffrench Bromhead, Bart. M. A., F. R. S. 

 L. & E. (Communicated by the Author.) 



Dr Lindley's celebrated " Nixus Plantarum "" was the first 

 attempt made in this country to characterise natural assem- 

 blages of the botanical families ; but his object was to indicate 

 the Normal state, and to offer differential characters, with- 

 out a detailed examination of the whole structure. The work 

 was one of uncommon boldness in the present state of the 

 science ; it did not enter into detail even as far as Agardh's 

 Aphorismi, but fully entered into the spirit of that most origi- 

 nal production. In Bartling is found the example, which must 

 be 'followed, where we wish to examine the whole structure ; 

 his descriptive characters being laboriously worked out through 

 every organ. Even Bartling, however, often gives only the 

 Nixus, without indicating exceptions or equivalent structures, 

 or applying language sufficiently general to embrace the whole 

 conditions. The following sketches are too much open to the 

 same remark ; nor can accuracy and rigour be expected without 

 the labours of a long succession of botanists. I have freely 

 used the labours of the authors whom I have named, as far as 

 they were applicable. 



CHARACTERS OF THE CLVACEOUS RACE. 



1. Ulvales. 



2. Charales, 



3. Osmundales. 



4. Ephedrales. 



5. Ulmales. 



6. Urticales. 



7. Piperales. 



8. Haloragales. 



9. (Enotherales. 

 10. Myrtales. 



11. Resales. 



12. Saxifragales. 



13. Cucurbitales. 



14. Portulacales. 



15. Chenopodiales. 



16. Polemoniales. 

 17- Boraginales. 



18. Solatiales. 



19. Gentianales. 



20. Apocynales. 



21. Galiales. 



22. Cornales. 



23. Geraniales. 



24. Cistales. 



25. Brassicales. 



26. Nymphseales. 



27. Sarraceniales. 



28. Alismales. 



29. Avenales. 



30. Typhales. 



1. Ulvales. — Without a matrix ; evascular, surface with- 

 out stomata or epidermis ; of filamentous structure, filaments 

 single or conglutinate and laminose ; without a distinct axis^of 



