26 GENERAL REMARKS ON THE 



The place of Atherospermese in the natural series is not 

 very easily determined. It is singular that differing so 

 widely as they certainly do in most parts of their structure 

 from Laurinee they should notwithstanding agree with 

 them in the economy of their anthera?, and very remark- 

 ably with some of them in their sensible qualities. Of the 

 554] three Australian plants of this order two are found in the 

 colony of Port Jackson, the third through the whole of Van 

 Diemen's Island. Pavonia of the Flora Peruviana (Laurelia 

 of Jussieu), a native of a similar cHmate, and possessmg 

 the same sensible qualities, is more nearly related to Ather- 

 osperma than is generally supposed, differing from it merely 

 in the oblong form and regular bursting of its female 

 calyx. 



RHAMNEJE. Into this order I admit such genera only 

 as have ovarium cohering more or less with the tube of the 

 calyx, of which the lacinise have a valvular aestivation; 

 stamina equal in number to these lacinise, and alternating 

 with them ; an ovarium with two or three cells and a single 

 erect ovulum in each ; an erect embryo generally placed in 

 the axis of a fleshy albumen, or entirely without albumen ; 

 the petals, Avhich are opposite to the stamina, and inclose 

 the antherae in their concave laminae, are in some cases 

 wanting. 



With these characters Ehamnus, Ziziphus, Paliurus, 

 Ceanothus (from which Pomaderris is hardly distinct), 

 Colletia, Cryptandra, Phyhca, Gouania, Ventilago, and 

 probably Hovenia correspond. In comparing this descrip- 

 tion of Rhamneae wdth that of Buttneriaceae formerly given, 

 they will be found to coincide in so many important points, 

 that the near relationship of these two orders cannot be 

 doubted, and thus an unexpected affinity seems to be proved 

 betw^een Khamnese and Malvaceae. 



In Terra Australis upward of thirty species of Rhamneae 

 belonging to Ziziphus, Ceanothus, Pomaderris, Colletia and 

 Cryptandra, have been observed, and chiefly in its principal 

 parallel or southern regions. 



