/ 
361 
REVISION OF THE NATUKAL ORDER HEBERACEM 
By Bekthold Seemann, Ph.D., F.L.S. 
{Continued from p. 276.) 
IX. On the Genera Tobicellta, Decostea, akd Adoxa, 
(Tab. XLI.) 
The monotypic genus ToricelUa was established by De Canclolle 
(Prodr. iv. p. 257) upon a plant of the Nepal mountains, which Wallich 
distributed under the name of Sambucus (?) tiU^folia, At first sight 
the plant has some points which certainly do remind us oi Sambncus; 
the pith of the stem and branches is thick and spongy, as in Elder- 
trees, and the flowers have somewhat the look of those of Samhwtis, 
But the corolla is not monopetalous, nor imbricate in aestivation ; it 
consists, on the contrary, of 5 petals, induplicate in aestivation, — cha- 
racters removing it entirely from Caprifoliacem . De Candolle placed 
ToricelUa in Hederace^e^ but in that Order it cannot be retained, on 
account of its induplicate petals, which are so closely united to the calyx 
that, unlike those of genuine Hederacet^y they never fall off, nor can 
they be separated from the organ they adhere to, without tearing them. 
Nor does the nature of inflorescence or the leaves in any way accord 
with that of Sederacece proper. In finally rejecting ToricelUa from 
the Order, the question is where should it be referred to. In Umbel- 
liferm proper we have induplicate petals, but the inflorescence and 3-4- 
merous fruit are against an admission into that Order. Cornece have a 
valvate corolla, and even if the widest interpretation is put upon the 
adhesion of the calyx and corolla of ToricelUa, we could not but own 
that the Cucurbitacets have a differently-constructed corolla, which 
renders impossible any incorporation of the genus with that Order, 
though Sicyos, with its pendulous ovules, may invite an examination 
into possible degrees of relationship. Haloragece, as now circum- 
scribed, seem to offer the only suitable place, and I would range the 
genus next to Loudonia, with which it agrees in the sestivation of the 
corolla, and somewhat in inflorescence. The special claims of ToricelUa 
for admission into HaloragecB rest upon its diclinous flowers, induplicate 
petals, and tetramerous fruits * Most specimens of ToricelUa contained 
* At my suggestion Professor GulUyer was induced to investigate ToricelUa^ 
VOL. ITI. [DECEMBER 1^ 1865.] 2 B 
