NAMED RAFFLESIA. 389 



On these resemblances, however, I am not disposed to 

 insist ; and I am even persuaded that there is here no real 

 affinity ; though I confess I have no other ohjcctions to 

 state to it than the valvular aestivation of the perianthium, 

 and the al)sence both of the corona and of the annular 

 elevations at the base of the cohuun in Slerculiacecn. 



To conchule tliis part of my subject, I am incUned to 

 think that Baf/Iesia, when its structure is completely known, 

 will be fouiul to approach either to Asarinccov Passiflorcce ; 

 and that, from our present imperfect materials, notwith- 

 standing the very slight affinity generally supposed to 

 exist between these two orders, it cannot be absolutely 

 determined to which of them it is most nearly allied. 



The only question that remains to be examined respecting 

 Baflles'ia is, whether the floAver with its enveloping bracteae 

 and reticulate base do not together form a complete plant 

 parasitic on the root from which it springs ? 



That such was probably the case, occurred to me on [224 

 first inspecting the flower bud ; the opinion being suggested 

 not only b}^ the direct origin of the flower from the root, 

 but more particularly by the disposition, texture and colour 

 of the bracteae ; in which it so nearly resembles certain 

 plants known to be ])arasites, as Cijtinus, Cijnomonum, 

 CahJasia of jMutis,^ BalanojjJwra, and Sarcophyic. 



In this opinion I was confirmed on seeing the figure of 

 the plant mentioned in Dr. Arnold's letter, as probably 

 related to the Great Flower, though not more than three 

 inches in diameter. 



The plant in question, which had been found in Java by 

 Dr. Ilorsfield several years before the discovery of BaJJlesla 



^ In the Journal of Science, vol. iii. p. 127, fi'oni El Semanario del Nuevo 

 Reyno dc Granada, for 1810. To this j^enus belonpj Cijnomorium jamaicenaey 

 and perhaps cmjancnse of Swartz, au unpublished species from Brazil, and some 

 otlier ))lants of equinoctial America. Before the appearance of Caldasia in the 

 Journal of Science, I was aware that these plants formed a genus very distinct 

 from Cj/)iomorium (Journal of Science, iii, p. 129), but I had not given it a 

 name, which is still wanting, that of Caldasia having long been applied to a 

 very different, and well known genus. 



The new name, however, may be left to M. Kicliard, who is about to publish, 

 and who will no doubt illustrate with his usual accurac}^ the )ilants formerly 

 referred to Cj/nomorium, of one of the species of which {0. cai/aticnsc) he is him- 

 self the discoverer. 



