438 APPENDIX. No. V. 
° » 
petalum. While Loranthus and Viscum associated with Rhizophora, by M. 
de Jussieu, appear to form a very distinct family, and which, as it seems to me, 
should even occupy a distant place in the system. 
HOMALIN#. In the collection from Congo a plant occurs evidently 
allied, and perhaps referable, to Homaliwm, from which it differs only in the 
greater number of glands alternating with the stamina, whose fasciculi are im 
consequence decomposed; the inner stamen of each fasciculus being separated. 
from the two outer by one of the additional glands.. This plant was first 
found on the banks of the Gambia, by Mr. Park, from whose specimens I have 
ascertained that the embryo is inclosed in a fleshy albumen. 
The same structure of seed may be supposed, from very obvious affinity, 
to exist in Astranthus of Loureiro, to which Blackwellia of Commerson ought 
perhaps to be referred ; in Napimoga of Aublet, probably not different from 
Homalium; and in Nisa,* a genus admitting of subdivision, and which M. 
du Petit Thouars has referred to Rhamnez. All these genera appear to me 
sufficently different from Rosaceze, where M. de Jussieu has placed them, and 
from every other family of plants at present established. 
Their distinguishing characters as a separate order, are, the segments of the 
perianthium disposed in a double series, or an equal number of segments 
nearly in the same series; the want of petals; the stamina being definite and 
opposite to the inner series of the perianthium, or to the alternate segments 
where they are disposed apparently in a simple series; the unilocular ovarium 
(generally in some degree coherent with the calyx) having three parietal 
placenti, with one, two, or even an indefinite number of ovula; and the seeds 
having albumen, as inferred from its existence in the genus from Congo. 
The cohesion of the ovarium with the tube of the perianthium, though existing 
in various degrees in all the genera above enumerated, is probably a character 
of only secondary importance in Homalina. For an unpublished genus found. 
by Commerson in Madagascar, which in every other respect agrees with this 
family, has ovarium superum. This genus at the same time seems to establish 
a considerably affinity between Homalinz and certain genera, either absolutely 
belonging to Passiflorew, especially Paropsia of M. du Petit Thouars,+ ox 
* Nov. Gen. Madagase.n.8\. 
+ Hist. des Véeget. des Isles de V Afrique, 5% 
