52 GENERAL REMARKS ON THE 



to gi'ow Ijeyond 3G° lat. ; but in Europe Chamcerojis humilis 

 extends as far as the neighbourhood of Nice. 



It is remarkable that no species of Pahii has been found 

 in South Africa, nor was any observed by Mr. Leschenault/ 

 on the West coast of New Holland, even within the tropic. 



JUNCEiE. We are now in possession of so many links 

 connecting together the Monocotyledonous orders with 

 regular flowers, that in attempting to define several of them, 

 we are obliged to have recourse to differences, many of 

 which may appear, and some of which unquestionably are, 

 of but secondary importance. Of this kind may be con- 

 sidered the characters by which I have endeavoured to dis- 

 tinguish Juncece from Asphodelese, namely the difference 

 in the texture of the perianthium, and in that of the testa 

 of the seed, in the consistence of tlie albumen, and in the 

 order of suppression of the stamina ; these when reduced 

 to three in number being always placed opposite to the 

 three outer leaves of the perianthium : in this respect and 

 578] in the more im})ortant character of the position of the 

 embryo Junceee differ also from Restiaceie, to which they 

 more nearly approach in habit. 



Three very remarkable genera, which I have referred to 

 Juncese, are peculiar to Terra Australis. Of two of these, 

 Cal ectasia and JDasypocjon, each consisting of only one 

 species, figures and descriptions are annexed to this essay. 



Of the third, Xerofes, 24 species have already been ob- 

 served. This genus is somewhat more abundant in the 

 principal parallel than in other parts ; but it is very gene- 

 rally extended, and is more frequent within the tropic than 

 in Van Diemen's Island. Xe rotes, in the structure and 

 appearance of its flowers and in the texture of albumen, 

 has a considerable resemblance to Palms, but it wants the 

 peculiar characters of the seed and also the habit of that 

 remarkable order. 



Flagellaria^ which I have added to Juncca?, differs from 

 Xerotes chiefly in its pericarpium, and in the form and 

 relation of its embryo to the albumen, which is also of a 



^ Aiinales du mm. 17, p. ST. 



