312 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL FAMILY 



I shall conclude this subject, by proposing a few queries 

 respecting the indusium of Brunonia and Goodenovice. 



Is this remarkable covering of stigma in these families 

 merely a process of the apex of the style ? or is it a part of 

 distinct origin, though intimately cohering with the pis- 

 tillum ? On the latter supposition, may it not be con- 

 sidered as analogous to the glandular disk surrounding or 

 135] crowning the ovarium in many other families ? And, 

 in adopting the hypothesis I have formerly advanced 1 res- 

 pecting the nature of this disk in certain families, — namely, 

 that it is composed of a series of modified stamina, — has 

 not the part in question a considerable resemblance in appa- 

 rent origin and division to the stamina of the nearly-related 

 family Stylidece ? 



To render this supposition somewhat less paradoxical, 

 let the comparison be made especially between the indusium 

 of Brunonia and the imperfect antherae in the female flowers 

 of Forstera. Lastly, connected with this view, it becomes 

 of importance to ascertain whether the stamina in Stylidece 

 are opposite to the segments of calyx or of corolla. The 

 latter disposition would be in favour of the hypothesis. 

 This, however, is a point which will not be very easily, de- 

 termined, the stamina being lateral. In the mean time, 

 the existence and division of the corona faucis in Btylidium 

 render it not altogether improbable that they are opposite 

 to the segments of the corolla. 



Since the preceding paper was submitted to the Society, 

 M. Cassini has published 2 the substance of a Memoir, 

 which he read to the Academy of Sciences of Paris in 

 August last, on a new family of plants named by him 

 BoopiuEiE, and consisting of Calycera, Boopis, and Aci- 

 carp/ta. I have also, through the liberality of Messrs. de 

 Jussieu, Desfontaines, and Baron Delessert, had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining specimens of Acicarpha tribuloides in 



133.1 



1 Liun. !Soc. Transact, x. p. 159. [Ante, p. 

 8 Bulletin dcs Sciences, 1S1(>, ]>. 160. 



