My. J. Miers on the Genns Rhabdia. 433 
In regard to its real affinity, it is clear that the peculiar 
placentation just described would remove it far from the Hhre- 
t/acee, under the supposition that the carpical structure of the 
latter accorded with the rule that has been hitherto under- 
stood: but it is quite otherwise ; for a more searching exami- 
nation into the structuré of Hhretia and its congeners has 
revealed the fact, which I shall be able to demonstrate, that 
there is little difference in their placentation from that of 
Rhabdia and Cortesia. Consequently Rhabdia will still re- 
main a member of this family. 
There is, however, a wide distinction between Hhretiaceee 
and Borraginacee (Borragee of De Candolle), the latter of 
which ought certainly to stand as a family distinct from all the 
tribes associated with them in the ‘ Prodromus,’ because they 
differ essentially in the peculiar gynobasic disposition of the 
carpels. By adopting as a basis of arrangement the various 
modes of organization of the carpels, the Hydrophyllacee 
would still occupy the place assigned to them by De Can- 
dolle; but if we transpose the Polemoniacece, Convolvulacee, 
and Era yctbece (all with an inferior radicle) to a more suitable 
position, a more satisfactory arrangement will be attained. 
The Ehretiacee osculate with the Bor raginee, and approach 
the Heliotropiee in their distinct carpels and simple style. 
Though it may be impossible to express the relative degrees 
of affinity of these several groups in a lineal series, the follow- 
ing would be a nearer approach to it than any hitherto pro- 
posed. Thus we should have—Cyrtandracew, Hydrophyl- 
lacee, Ehretiacee, Borraginee, Heliotropiacee, Cordiacee*, 
Hydroleacee, Erycibee, Convolvulacee, Polemoniacee, Scro- 
phulariacee, &c. In this manner the pentandrous hypogynous 
Monopetalecee with two or four carpellary ovaries and a supe- 
rior radicle all fall into one continuous series, with more har- 
monious steps of transition, while those with an inferior 
radicle are made to follow. 
Ruappra, Mart.;—Ehretia in parte auct.—Sepala 5, sub- 
eequalia, lanceolata, persistentia, estivatione imbricata. Co- 
volla subeampanulata, imo tubulosa, ad medium 5-loba, 
lobis oblongis, subacutis vel rotundatis. Stamina 5, lobis 
alterna, ad basin tubi inserta; filamenta filiformia, tubo 
longiora ; anther ovate, erect, 2-lobe, lobis ovatis, col- 
lateraliter adnatis, rima longitudinali introrsum dehiscenti- 
bus. Discus minimus, glandulosus, simplex aut nullus. 
Ovarium superum, conico-ovatum, septis 2 incompletis e 
* In this interval should be placed a new family, the Awremmacee, 
which will be shortly described. 
