242 



1 . Melanihece or Veratrea. Carpels partially concrete ; pericarp capsular ; dehis- 



cence generally septicidal; flowers frequently unisexual ; perianth less coloured, 

 persistent ; stamens persistent ; rhizoma fibrous. British genus, Tojieldia. 



2. ColchicecB. Perianth more highly developed ; sepals with long claws, often com- 

 bined into a tube ; styles long ; carpels concrete ; pericarp capsular, dehiscence 

 septicidal ; rhizoma bulbous ; floral axis naked, hypogaeous. British genus, 

 Colchicum. 



3. Anguillariea. Floral organs frequently deciduous ; styles short, as in the first 



group ; carpels completely concrete ; pericarp capsular or baccate, dehiscence 



loculicidal ; rhizoma bulbous or fibrous ; axis leafy. 

 " The genus Colchicum establishes an evident relationship through Stembergia 

 and Crocus between MelanthaceBe, Amaryllideas, and Irides. The present genus 

 connects the family with Smilaceae, and Tofieldia as clearly with Juncese, whilst a 

 comparison of the stiiicture of Uvularia and Eiythroninm fully makes out their afii- 

 nity with Liliacese or Tulipaceae. * * The class of Monocotyledonous plants 

 off'ers a beautiful confirmation of the tioith of the doctrine of the continuity of the se- 

 ries of organized beings ; and however much the universal existence of transition or 

 osculant genera in this class may perplex the botanist who looks to the technical defi- 

 nition of his groups as the highest object of the science, we are not to exclude such 

 genera from our researches merely because their presence renders the circumscription 

 of our pretended natural orders more difficult, for they ceitainly form the most inte- 

 resting part of the study of natural affinities.'' — p. 514. 



Eight species, natives of Asia, are fully described in this Mono- 

 graph ; and the paper is concluded by a description of Reich enbach's 

 closely allied genus Kreysigia. The species — Kreys. multiflora, is a 

 native of New Holland, and was discovered by Mr. Allan Cunning- 

 ham, who introduced it in 1823 to the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, 

 where it annually flowers and matures its fruit. It was at first sup- 

 posed to be a species of Schelhammera, but on examination was found 

 to differ essentially both from that genus and Disporum. 



" This genus is essentially distinguished from Schelhammera by its sessile biap- 

 pendiculate sepals ; by the stamens proceeding free from the torus, unconnected with 

 the sepals ; by the cells of its ovarium bearing only two ovula ; by its somewhat bac- 

 cate pericarpium ; and, lastly, by its axillary peduncles, which are furnished with three 

 small verticillate bractes. The presence of appendages, the spreading sepals, free sta- 

 mens, strophiolate seeds, minute embryo, axillary inflorescence, and valvular fruit re- 

 move it equally from Disporum.'' — p. 523. 



The attention of the author was drawn to the appendages at the 

 base of the sepals, resembling those of Parnassia, by Mr. John Smith 

 of Kew ; Mr, Don, as well as Endlicher, at first supposed them to be 

 imperfectly developed stamens, but Mr. Brown having pointed out " the 

 intimate connexion of these curious appendages with the sepals, and 

 the entire absence from them of vascularity," the author here corrects 

 the error into which he had previously fallen. 



