Mr. J. Miers on the Menispermacez. 99 
species, bear drupes of the size and colour of grapes, enclosing 
an osseous putamen, with three teeth at each extremity (whence 
the generic name) ; in the structure of its seed it corresponds with 
the rest of the Heteroclinee. Belonging to this genus, there is 
a group of plants which I formerly referred to Chondodendron, 
R. & P. (Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. vil. 44), in consequence of their 
resemblance to Péppig’s drawing of his Chondodendron convolvu- 
laceum; but when I met with the typical species of that genus, 
collected by Pavon, I saw at once the error. Subsequently I was 
able to identify the group alluded to with Odontocarya, from 
specimens in flower and fruit from Panama:-these are all more 
slender plants, with smaller leaves than in my typical species ; 
but they all possess the same habit and a similar floral and 
seminal structure. 
OpontocarRya, nob.—Flores dioici. Masc. Sepala 9, quorum 
3 exteriora dimidio minora, angustiora, et bracteiformia, 6 in- 
terlora majora, 2-serialia, zequalia, cuneato-oblonga, tenuiter 
- membranacea, nervosa, «stivatione valde imbricata. Petala 6, 
subzequalia, sepalis opposita et iis paulo minora, ovata, tenuiter 
membranacea. Stamina 6, petalis opposita, iis ‘zequilonga, imo 
in columnam brevem coalita, superne libera ; filamenta latius- 
cula, complanata, tenuiter membranacea, apice rotundata, 
antheras sepe excedentia; anthere 2-lobe, lobis oblongis, 
parallele sejunctis, filamento immersis, rima marginali dehis- 
centibus. Ovaria rudimentaria nulla.—Fem. Sepala et petala 
ut in masc. Stamina sterilia 6, forma marium, sed multo 
minora, antheris effcetis glanduleformibus terminata, circa 
gynzecium stipitatum inserta. Ovaria 3 , oblonga, extus gibbosa, 
apice tenuiora, glabra ; stylus nullus; stigma sessile, deltoideo- 
acutum, subito deflexum, radiato-incisum ; ovulum unicum, ex 
angulo ventrali appensum. Drupe ovate, 3, vel abortu soli- 
are mucilagineo- carnose : putamen osseum, ovatum, sub- 
compressum, lees convexum, tuberculis serialibus scabridis 
rugulosum, apice imoque 3-dentatum, extus pilis_papillosis 
ereberrimiis tectum, 1-loculare, intus leve, nisi ad ventrem 
lineis paucis tr ansversalibus prominentibus notatum ; condylus 
ad faciem ventralem, scutiformis, extus concavus, intra loculum 
convexus. Semen loculo conforme, meniscoideum, e summo 
condyli funiculo brevissimo appensum ; integumenta tenuis- 
sima, facie ventrali raphe longitudinali signata: embryo fere 
rectus, intra albumen copiosum carnosum fere 2-lamellosum 
latere dorsali tenue, ventrali crassum, fissuris paucis transver- 
salibus ruminatum, radicula supera, tereti, ad stylum spectante, 
cotyledonibus ellipticis, membranaceo- foliosis, 5-nerviis, late- 
raliter valde divaricatis, et in locellis sejunctis utrinque positis. 
- 
7* 
