106 Mr. B. Clarke on the Structure and Affinities of 



the line of the raphe and hilum) ; embryo lying in albumen, 

 and nearly as long as the seed ; radicle superior. Dehiscence 

 septicidal, the carpels separating from each other and also 

 from the tubes of the calyces, which, continuing adherent to 

 each other, form obconical, socket-like cavities, in which the 

 separated carpels lie unattached except by their bases*. 



Chloranthace^. 



The structure of this family may perhaps be better understood 

 by a comparison with the Amental and Urtical alliances, espe- 

 cially with the Myricacese and Casuarinese, than by a separate 

 analysis of them, however extended ; and although not strictly 

 amentaceous except in the male flowers of Hedyosmum (which 

 differ from those of Liquidambar only in the number of stamens 

 belonging to each flower), a reference to them in connexion may 

 be desirable, as their affinities remain so uncertain as to occasion 

 them to be placed in widely diff"erent stations in the natural 

 system ; and the more so, because it is a question materially 

 aff'ectuig other inquiries. The following character has been 

 formed from a selection of carefully repeated observations. 



Herbaceous plants or shrubs, with opposite, entire, stipulate 

 leaves. Flowers unisexual or hermaphrodite, in loose spikes, 

 or dense capitula. Calyx, in Sarcandra, obsolete ; in Chlor- 

 anthus, a scarcely apparent scale adherent to the anterior side 

 of the ovary, and extending laterally ; in Ascarina, two lateral, 

 acute, scale-like sepals, present both in the male and female 

 flower, but not adhering to the ovary ; and in the female 

 flower of Hedyosmum consisting of three sepals forming a 

 tube, for the most part not adherent to the ovary, except at 

 the apex, where it becomes trifid, two of its segments being 

 lateral and one posterior. Stamen in Sarcandra, Ascarina, 

 and Hedyosmum, single, and always anterior, 2-celled (before 

 opening 4-celled, from a spurious, not always complete dis- 

 sepiment in the line of dehiscence), terminated by a beak, the 

 cells in Sarcandra being separated by a thickened connective ; 



* Since the above was written, I find Dr. J. D. Hooker has ))lace(l this 

 genus in Hamamelidese (Linn. Proc. vol. ii. p. 85) ; I believe, however, the 

 character now given will prove not without interest, as being a more ex- 

 tended analysis both of the male and female flowers, particularly as the 

 male flowers are more reduced than in anj' other epigynous genus of plants 

 (unless among the Balanophorea;), although now referred without doubt to 

 a dichlamydeous family. I would suggest that the b.arren stamens of the 

 female flower are analogous to the barren stamens of some genera of San- 

 talacea;, and with other characters, sliov.- an aflinity between the two fami- 

 lies. The calyx when the fruit has ripened becoming free, may be com- 

 pared to Raspailia. 



