258 ON THE GENUS @ Lares. 
diferent conclusion, giving my reasons at considerable length, founded 
upon the evidence obtained by an extensive series of careful analyses ; 
a copious diagnosis was given of each genus of the Zcacinacee, their 
several structures were illustrated by analytical drawings, and with the 
view of showing the contrast, the same course was followed in demon- 
stration of a few genera of the Olacacee. 
This evidence showed that the Olacacee (excluding Icacinee) present 
normal carpellary structure much resembling that of the Styracee 
(excluding Symplocinee), a family also monographed and illustrated 
y me in a similar manner ; it proved also that the group of the Zeaci- 
nacee holds an intimate relationship with Aguifoliacee and Celastracee. 
In fine, it became evident that the only character in common between 
Olacacee and Icacinacee is the valvate eestivation of the corolla, a fea- 
ture of very secondary value, compared with the more important con- 
sideration of its carpellary arrangement; in all other respects there is 
an absolute antagonism between the two groups, as I will here endea- 
your to recapitulate in as brief a manner as possible. 
In Icacinacee, as in Aquifoliacee and other families of the Celastral 
alliance, the flowers are always symmetrical, the parts being equal in 
number and alternate in distinct whorls, viz. a cupular 5-toothed calyx 
(that never enlarges or becomes connate with the fruit), 5 petals alter- 
nate with its teeth, 5 free stamens always antheriferous, arising outside 
and beneath a free cupular disk, in which a free ovary, sometimes ste- 
rile, is seated; the stamens may therefore be said to be hypogynous, 
which is not the case in Olacacea. Of the ovary itself we will speak 
presently. 
n the other hand, in Olacacez, the floral structure is quite of 
. another character. Here the cupular disk performs a conspicuous 
part, and is subject to two conditions; either it is adnate to the calyx, 
or it is confluent for its entire length with the base of the ovary, but in 
either case both the petals and stamens stand upon the margin of the 
disk, so that these parts which constitute three distinct whorls in 
Icacinacee, form only a single whorl in Olacacee, and not only so, but 
there is no symmetry in the number of petals and stamens. The sta- 
mens are usually 6, seldom 4, and more rarely 5, varying in number 
among the species of each genus; many of them are deficient of 
anthers, and are united together in various ways, there being a con- 
stant tendency in these parts to become confluent, which never occurs 
