386 ACCOUNT OF A NEW (iENUS OF PLANTS, 



NejoentJies, which has a superior ovariuiii, is related to 

 Asarina, as I am inclined to beheve ; and on the other, by 

 considering Jlomalince, whose ovarium is inferior, as allied 

 to Fassiflorea, the order with which I shall now proceed 

 to compare Eajjiesia. 



The comparison is suggested by the obvious resemblance 

 between the perianthium of our genus, and that of certain 

 2^01 species of Passifora itself; or of other genera of the 

 order, as JDeidamia, in Avhich the inner series of segments is 

 wanting. Thus, they agree essentially, and even remarka- 

 bly, in sestivation of perianthium : the corona of Bqfflesia 

 may be compared with tliat of Muructiia, and the two 

 annular elevations at the base of the column with the pro- 

 cesses of like origin and nearly similar form in some species 

 of Passiflora, The affinity is also supported by the position 

 of the stamina on a central column. 



The peculiar structure of antherse in Pcrfflesia can hardly 

 be regarded as an objection of much weight to the proposed 

 association ; and it will at least almost equally apply to 

 any other family with which this genus may be compared. 



If the concentric processes on the disk of the colunni in 

 our plant are to be regarded as indications of the number 

 and disposition of pistilla, or of the internal structure of 

 ovarium in the female flower, tliey present a formidable 

 objection to its affinity with Passiflorece, in all of which the 

 ovarium is unilocular with parietal placentae. If, however, 

 these processes vrere considered as inner series of imperfect 

 stamina, the objection derived from their number and ar- 

 rangement merely, would be comparatively slight ; for in 

 some genera of Passiforece, particularly in Smeatlimannia} 

 the stamina are also numerous and perhaps even indefi- 

 nite. 



1 As Smeathmannia forms a very remarkable addition to the order in_ which 

 I liave proposed to place it, and is still unpublished ; I shall here give its 

 characters, and add a few remarks in support of this arrangement. 



Smeatidia>'xia. Soland, 2Iss. hi Biblioih. Banks. 



Ord. ^'at. Passiaoreie. Br. in Tuclcey's Congo, p. 439. {Ante p. 121.) 



Syst. Linn. Polyaudria Pentao-ynia. 



Chae. Gex. Perianthium duplex, utrumque 5-partitum; exterius semicaly- 

 cinum persistens ; interius petaloideum marcescens. Urceolus simplex, membra- 

 naceus, ex ipsa basi perianthii. Stamina numerosa, distiucta, apici columns 



