OF PLANTS CALLED COMPOSITE. 309 



obtusae, piano-con vexae, vix longitudine Radicalce cylin- 

 draceae, superae. 



Notwithstanding the great difference between my account 

 of this plant and that given by M. de Jussieu of Acicarpha 

 tribuloides, I have very little doubt that they both belong- 

 to the same genus ; though from the above description it 

 is evident that Acicarpha spathulata is not referable to 

 Compositae. To this plant Calycera of Cavanilles, in the 

 seeds of which M. Correa has found albumen, seems to be 

 very nearly related ; and a third genus, probably refer- 

 able to this group, is Boopis, described by M. cle Jussieu 

 in the same Memoir with Acicarpha. The important 

 characters, however, of the pendulous ovulum and inverted 

 embryo remain to be ascertained in all these; and the 

 presence of albumen in Acicarpha tribuloides (in Acicarpha 

 lanata of Lagasca in Pers. Syn. ii. p. 488, if it really belong 

 to this genus), and in both species of Boopis. Another [132 

 question respecting the latter genus is, whether its capitu- 

 lum be simple, as it certainly is in Acicarpha spathulata ; 

 or compound, as Jussieu's figure of Boopis anthemoides 

 seems to indicate. 



In the mean time, with the necessary knowledge of 

 structure of Acicarpha spathulata only, I shall venture to 

 propose this group as a distinct natural family to be placed 

 between Compositae and Dipsaceae ; though upon the whole 

 somewhat more nearly approaching to Compositae. This 

 family, if my conjectures respecting Calycera and Boopis 

 should be hereafter verified, may be called CALYCEREiE ; 

 Acicarpha even as a generic name being barely tenable, 

 provided the original species agrees with that here described : 

 for on this supposition M. de Jussieu has mistaken the 

 laciniae of the perianthium for paleae of the receptacle, 

 deriving the name of the genus from their form ; and has 

 entirely overlooked the real paleae, which, though they 

 could not have suggested this name, may however sanction 

 its being retained, if it be not still better to change it to 

 A ci carp a. 



