149 



nn Formen einer anderen Reihe gestatten, dann sind clieselben a\is der ersteren zu 

 entfernen \ind an die andere anruscMieBen. 



In my opinion, however, sucli is not the case. As I have discussed series 

 after series, the several groups bear a close or loose relation to other groups, 

 some of which He near the group under consideration and some far from it, 

 even judging from our present Kmited knowledge. Some sx^ecies assignable 

 to a series in one respecfc are jusfc as clearly referable to another series in 

 another respect. It is absohitely impossible to make up more natraal groups, 

 by taking one form from its old place to a new one. Natural relations should, 

 in any case, appear in the dynamic view. 



Now, we should examine the Polypetalous groups. Lst us begin with 

 the Centrospermae. This series is related to the Batidales, Polygonales, 

 Urticales, and Santalales, as has been discussed before. It is also aUied to the 

 Parietales, as is indicated by the agreement in the jwsition of stamens in the 

 Porfculacacese and Loasace8e^\ On the other liand, the resemblance is to }^e 

 found in this series and the Rhoeadales, the floral structm-e being somewhat 

 similar in the Phyfcolaccacese and Tovariaceae'^^ (Benth.-Hooker). Purther, ifc 

 bears some relation to the Geraniales, in the matter of the incontestable re- 

 semblance in the Caryophyllacese-SilenoideaB and the Linacese^^ Moreover, a 

 striking affinity of the Centrospermse to the Opuntiales is suggested in 

 Mesemhrianthemum of the Aizoacese and in Opuntia of the Cactacese in the 

 floral structure'". The Centrospermse are, therefore, related to the Batidales, 

 Polygonales, Urticales, Santalales, Parietales, Kanales, Rhoeadales, and Geraniales, 

 in this point or that. Their natural position should be a very dynamic 

 one. 



Next come the Ilanales'^^ As fcMs series impKes many different things, 

 its relations extend to many other series. Some famihes of the Banales ai'e 

 closely allied to the Monocotyledones and some are, if not very evidently, even to 

 the Metachlamydeae. The relations of the Ranales to the Urfcicales, Helobise 

 and Arisfcolochiales, we have treated above. Their affinity to the Ebenales can not 



1) Nat. Pfl.-fam. III.— 6, a, p. 106. 2) Nat. Pfl.-fam. in.-2, p. 207. 



3)- Nat. Pfl.-fam. III.— 4, p. 30. 4) Wkttsteik, E. E.— 1. c. p. 533. 



5) Engleb, A. — Erlauterungen, 1. c. p, 364. 



