CORRESPONDENCE. 87 
The genus is an anomalous one, and as its long tubular curved calyx 
reminded me of Cuphea, I named it Cupheanthus. At first I decided 
to place it in Lythrariee, and had actually the letterpress set up in that 
way, but finally determined to retain it in Myrtacee, chiefly on account 
of its inferior ovary, and certain features which it has in common with 
Punica, such as the thick valvate and coloured calyx, and the impunc- 
tate subverticillate leaves. I now find that Bentham and Hooker 
(* Genera Plantarum,’ p. 696), whilst retaining Cupheanthus amongst 
the anomalous genera of Myrtacea, refer Punica to Lythrariee. In 
my mind there is no doubt that Punica and Cupheanthus are closely 
allied, and must be dealt with collectively; and it is singular that we 
should have arrived independently at the same conclusion about their 
affinity. Unfortunately, the only specimen of Cupheanthus existing at 
the British Museum, is imperfect, but I think there is no doubt that 
the calyx is valvate; I have never seen any calyx of the thickness of 
that of Cupheanthus that is imbricate, as the authors of the ‘ Genera 
Plantarum’ suppose it to be. Recent investigations have almost 
completely broken down the boundary-line between Myrtacee and 
Lythrariee upon which systematists formerly used to rely. I am 
therefore rather curious to see what absolute characters Bentham and 
Hooker have been able to find to distinguish them, or whether their 
labours—which nobody appreciates more than I do—tend to show that 
the two supposed Orders should be merged into one.—B. SEEMANN. 
—— 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
White-flowered Varieties of British Plants. 
High Wycombe, January 5, 1866. 
Geranium pheum, L.; Antirrhinum Orontium, L.; Armeria maritima, L. ; 
Daphne Mezereum, L. ; and Scilla autumnalis, ne may be added to my pre- 
vious list, and these, with those given by Mr. — m III. p. 383) will 
i H variation rs to 171; viz. 92 
having blossoms in which some shade of red normally uni A 58 in 
which some shade of blue — ipid and 22 in imis some shade 
of redominates 
yellow normally p ox e. 
JaMES BRITTEN. 
