396 ACCOUNT OP A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS, 



possible that in the female the production of seeds may 

 extend to an equal depth ; the ovarium would then become 

 essentially inferior, as far at least as regards the question of 

 the affinity of the plant. This point would be determined 

 by a description of the unimpregnated ovarium, a knowledge 

 of whose structure is also wanting to enable us to under- 

 stand the nature of the ripe fruit, and especially the origin 

 and direction of the fissures, on the surfaces of which the 

 seeds are produced. 



It is desirable likewise to have a more particular de- 

 scription of the Stigma, to which Mr. Jack seems to refer 

 both the corniculate processes of the disk, and the undivided 

 limb of the column. These parts in the male flower have 

 no evident papulose or secreting surface ; for the hispid tips 

 of the processes can hardly be regarded as such. But it is 

 not likely that in the female flower they are equally desti- 

 tute of this, which is the ordinary surface of a stigma ; and 

 it appears to me more probable that such a surface should 

 be confined to a definite portion, probably the tips, of the 

 corniculate processes, than that it should extend over every 

 part of the apex of the column. 



Whatever may be the fact, my conjecture respecting 

 these processes being possibly imperfect stamina is com- 

 pletely set aside ; though it is still difficult to connect their 

 number and arrangement Avith the supposed structure of 

 ovarium. 



232] Until these points are ascertained, and the seeds have 

 been examined, the question of the affinities of the genus 

 will probably remain undetermined. In the mean time it 

 may be remarked, that as far as the structure of the fruit 

 of Rafflesia is yet understood, it may be considered as in 

 some degree confirming the proposed association of the 

 genus with Asarince \ especially with Cytinus, in which the 

 ovarium is unilocular, with numerous parietal placenta3 

 extending nearly to the centre of the cavity, and having 

 their surfaces covered with minute ovula. 



From the appearance of the ripe fruit of Ajjliyteia, a 

 similar structure may be supposed to exist also in that 

 genuS; of which, however, the unimpregnated ovarium has 



