Mr. J. Miers on a new species of Lardizabala. 183 



large, almost equalling the lobes, entire, and deeply grooved at 

 the apex; the maxillary palpi are porrected; the second joint is 

 as long as the two following together ; the fourth, in both the 

 maxillary and labial ones, is triangular or slightly securiform, 

 being obliquely truncated at the tip ; the thorax is elongated 

 cordiform, truncated at the base ; the back is elevated, divided 

 down the middle by an impression ; the commencement of the 

 elevation forms two knobs at the base ; the first tarsal joint is 

 as long as the three following together. 



[To be continued.] 



XIX. — On a new species 0/ Lardizabala, and on the Structure of 

 the Seed in that genus. By John Miers, F.R.S., F.L.S. &c. 



The structure and affinities of the genera of the Lardizahalacea 

 were scarcely known before the publication of the excellent 

 monograph of M. Decaisne above twenty years ago, when the 

 family was first established. Since that time little has been 

 added to our knowledge of the order, except the interesting 

 remarks of the authors of the ' Flora Indica/ who have described 

 the Asiatic species, and have added a new and remarkable genus, 

 which they have gracefully dedicated to the very eminent bota- 

 nist before mentioned, the type being the Decaisnea insignis, a 

 native of the Himalayas. M. Decaisne considered the family to 

 be intermediate between Schizandracece and Berberidacece ; and 

 Prof. Lindley indicated its nearer affinity with the Me7iispermace(s, 

 at the head of which order it had long previously been placed as 

 a distinct tribe by DeCandolle [Lardizabalece, Prodr. i. 95). In 

 my memoir upon the Winteracece I have pointed out the inti- 

 mate relationship existing between those two families. 



It has been generally understood that the numerous ovules 

 in the ovaries of the Lardizabalacem are scattered indiscriminately 

 over the whole internal surface of the cell; but Drs. Hooker 

 and Thomson show that in Decaisnea the ovules are confined to 

 two regular lines of placentation, which they notice as an excep- 

 tional case, contrary to the condition which has been considered 

 the chief characteristic of the order. In Lardizabala, a genus 

 belonging exclusively to Chile, I have found that the ovules, in 

 a similar manner, originate in six distinct parallel parietal pla- 

 centae, running from the base to the apex ; and in the fruit, the 

 seeds are likewise arranged in as many parietal lines. The 

 distinguished botanists just mentioned also state that in Decaisnea 

 the ripe fruit is filled with a cellular pulp, which is developed 

 from the whole surface of the growing wall of the pericarp, thus 

 forming a complete homogeneous mass, without leaving any 



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