388 ACCOUNT OF A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS, 



which is very doiibtful, however, and can only be deter- 

 mined by an examination of the frnit, it may also be com- 

 pared with Rafflesia. At first sight this singular genus 

 seems to resemble our plant in several respects, particularly 

 in the manner of insertion of its sessile flower into the 

 branch, in the bractese surrounding the ovarium, the con- 

 fluence and dilatation of its fllaments, and in the existence 

 of a double corona. But some of these points are obviously 

 unimportant ; and the comparison between the corona of 

 the great flower and the double corolla of Belvisia will 

 probably be considered paradoxical.-^ 



It seems unnecessary to compare Rafflesia with Citcur- 

 hitacece, to which it could only be considered as approach- 

 ing, if its affinity to Ajjhyteia should appear probable, and 

 the relationship of that genus to Ciicurbitacece, suggested 

 chiefly by the structure of antherse, were at the same time 

 admitted. 



223] The points of agreement between Bafflesia and Sterculi- 

 acecB are the division and form of the coloured perianthium, 

 the sessile antherse terminating a column, and the separa- 

 tion of sexes. 



1 M. de Beauvois, iu his account of Napoleona {Flore cVOware ii, p. 32), has 

 mentioned a genus allied to it, which has been since published by M. Desfon- 

 taines under the name of Asteranthos. These two genera are without doubt 

 nearly related ; and, even independent of the structure of fruit, which in both 

 remains to be ascertained, possess sufficient characters to separate them from 

 every known family, as M. de Jussieu is disposed to think ; and certainly from 

 SpnplocecB^ where M. Desfoutaines has placed them. 



In adopting the generic name proposed by M. Desvaux for Napoleona, this 

 order may be called 



Belyise^e. 



Calyx mouophyllus, limbo diviso, persistens. Corolla 1 monopetala, plicata, 

 (multiloba vel iudivisa ; simplex v. duplex) decidua. Stamina vel deflnita v. 

 indefinita; basi corollse inserta. Odarmm'\\\'itx\\m. Stylus^. StigmaV^idXw.m 

 V. angulatum. Pericaipium baccatum, polyspermum. 



Erutices (Africse eequinoctialis ; an etiam Brasilia^ ?) foliis alternis integerri- 

 mis exstipulatis.Jloribus axillaribiis lateralibasve solitariis. 



Belvisia, Desvaux in Journal de Botajtique appliq. iv, /;. 130. 



Napoleona, Palisot de Beauvois Flore d'Oware \\^p. 29. 



Calyx h-Jidus. Corolla? duplex; exterior indivisa; interior (e staminibus 

 sterilibus connatis formata?) multifida. Stamina: Filamenta 5 dilatata bian- 

 therifera. 



AsTERANTHOS, Desfont. in Mem. du- Mas. vi, p. 9, tab. 3. 



Calyx multidentatus. Corolla ? simplex multiloba. Stamina indefinite 

 numerosa distincta. 



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