130 



Bei den Fnmilien der Helobiae sehen wir die Bliiten alle moglichen ^tufen von 

 der Achlamydie bis zur Hetercx;hlamydie, von der Hypogynie bis zur E igynie, von 

 unbestimmter Zahl der StaubbLitter un 1 Carpelle bis zu begrenzter durchmachen, xmd 

 ■wegen dieser noch groBen Unbestandigkeit lasse ich diese Keihe den Glvmijlora; vor- 

 angehen. Die Keihe glicdert sich in 3 Unterreihen, in die rotamogetonineoi mit den 

 rolumojelonarece, Najadarea, Apnnoijelonic a; und Juncadlnaceo', in die Alismineoi und 

 Bvtmiinea;. Die Trennung der letzteren halte ich wegen der bei den Buiomacern und 

 llydroclfirilacea; vorkommenden Stellung der h'a. auf den Wandflichen der Carpelle 

 fiir notwendig. 



Engler's Helobise referrod fco in the above quobation are, in my estimation, 

 a coUection of lieterogeneous families bounded artificially by partial relations, 

 (that is to say, bounded by tbis one in one caso of these two famiKes, but 

 by that one in another case of thoso two famihes). The natural relations of 

 the Helobise to the others are accordingly, even in the present state of our know- 

 ledge, very extensive. Li the first place, the series is partly related to the 

 LihiflorsB and parily to the Farinosse ; the connection with the former series 

 is manifested in the Hydrocharitaceae which bear some resemblance to the 

 Iridacese and AmaryUidaceae in the inferior ovarj^, while the relation to the 

 latter series is exhibited also in the Hydrocharitacese which have the same 

 kind of ovary in common with the BromeHaceae and share the axillary 

 flowers, perianth and parietal placentas with the Mayacacase^^ (both of the 

 latter series). In the second place, it somewhat approaches the Spathiflorae, 

 as can be seen in the relation between Zodera and the Araceae-^ In the 

 third place, though it is placed far apart from the Ranales in Engler's system, 

 its alhauce with the latter series is incontestable, as we can see a striking 

 resemblance between the flowers of the Ahsmatacese and those of tho Ranun- 

 culacese'^, in the numerous stamens, apocarpous gynsecea, and in the habit. 

 Further, some resemblance, although very shght, is found in the Triuridales''^ 

 in the numerous free carpels. It is also related to the Microspermse'^^ as the 

 Hydrocharitacese are compared with the Burmanniacese and Orchidaceae by 

 BENTnAM-HooKER, on the ground that these famihes have in common the 



1) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II.— 4, p. 18. 2) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II.— 1, p. 291. 



3) Nat. Pfl.-fam. II. — 1, p. 229 ; Lotzy, J. P. — Vortrage iiber Botanische Stammesgeschichte, 

 ni— 1, p. 625. 



4) Nat. Pfl.-fam. IL— 1, p. 237. 



5) Bbntham et Hookee, Genera Plantarum III. pp. 449 and 456. 



