111 



stamens, conplecl with the presenoa of the oil-cells in the place just mentioned, 

 are to be credited with superior value in classification, then the Winteranace99 

 should be placed next to the Myiisticacese (Ranales). But in other respecfcs, 

 it is altogether related to the Violacese and Flacourtiacese (Parietales). 



Passifloraceae'^ (Parietales) : This group is closelj alUed to the Malesher- 

 biacece (Par.) and Tm*neracea9 (Par.) in its general aspects. But, on the 

 other hand, if the receptacle and its efl5giu*ation, and the often stalked ovary 

 are especially taken into consideration, then it is comparable rather to the 

 Thymelseaceae (MjTtiflorae). Also in a certain respect it comes near to the 

 Cucurbitacea?. 



Achariaceae-^ (Parietales) : If the superior ovaries, parietal placentas, and 

 the presence of albumen are credited •with superior value in classification, then 

 it should be placed quite close to the Passifloraceae. But, if the gamophyllous 

 corolla preponderate, when weighed against the above mentioned characteristics, 

 then the Achariacere would come next to the Cucurbitacese. 



Oleaceae"'^ (Ebenales) : Tliis groiip is closely allied to the Lc^aniacese 

 and to the Rubiacese ; but on the other hand, it is in no less degree comparable 

 to the Celash-acese and Salvadoracese (both of the Sapindales). 



As can be clearly seen in the above examples, a family is placed in one 

 position by authors with one view, while it is taken to another by those with 

 another view. The present systematic problem in current opinion is to decide 

 whether it is better or more natm*al to place it near this or near that; or 

 which characteristics preponderate over others. But in my opinion, the problem 

 is seen to be quite wide of the mark, so soon as the real state of things is 

 considered. The famiHes just considered are such groups, as the symbohzed 

 species above referred to, whose natm-al relations are only conceivable according 

 to the dynamic view. A family comes close to this in one view, but in the 

 other, it goes to that, just as a child playing with its mates. The child 

 changes its company at random, but the plant shifts its place according to 

 the law of natm-al relations. 



A natural system denoting the natural relations of families should, 



1) Nat. Pfl.-fam. III. -6, a, p. 78. 2) Nat. Pfl.-fam. Nachtr. I. p. 257. 



3) Nat. rfl.-fara. IV.— 2, p. 4. 



