RH1Z0GEN 



CLASS II!.— RHIZOGENS. 



RHwiiham, Blum. FL Java, 1838 . / 



I ■■ "-■ 



These arc parasitica] plants destitute of true leavi i, in 

 they have cellular Bcales. Their Btem is either an amorphoue 

 or a ramified mycelium, Bometimes, perhaps always 

 in tli" tissue of the plants on which it ; and is very impi 



supplied with Bpiral vessels, which in some insl eem to be wl 



n. N"o instance of green colour is known among them ; but I 

 are brown, yellow, or purple. They are furnished with trueflowi 



[mens and carpels, and surrounded bj a trimerous or p< 

 merous calyx, or absolutely naked. Their ovules appear to be constn 

 upon the same plan as in other flowering plants. The true nature of their 



da ia in most sj ies quite unknown; by Bome th< 



breaking \ij> into a mass of Bpores, by others as consisting of a ••• llular 

 nucleus abounding in grumous corpuscles E . audi: 1 they i 



be regarded as too .small for exact observation; but it is certain that in 

 some instances they have a minute undivided embryo enclosed in muci 



■Hilar albumen. 



At this point of the Vegetable Kingdom we find a most curious 

 blage, which, with many of the peculiarities of End 

 intermediate form of organisation between them and Thallogi ns. 1 

 have no relation to Acrogens, although they follow at this • 



agree with Endogens in the present f sexes, and sometimes in 



structure of their flower; they have, however, scarcely any spiral 

 niul their seeds appear, as far as they have b< mined, either, as 



>.iy. to want the cotyledons and axis of other flowering plants, or to I 

 themsi Ives in a mass of pulp, from which they are almost undistii 

 In their amorphous Bucculent texture, in their colour, often in their putrid 

 odour when decaying, in the formation <>i' a mycelium or spawn, i 

 evident in Belesis, and is with good reason suspected to exist in otl 

 and in their parasitical habits, these plant- resembli Pungals, while in their 



I flowers and sexes they accord with Arumworts, or similar En 

 Rhizogens all agree in being of a fungus-like consi 

 habits et' living parasitically en the roots of other plants. 



generally stain water, or sjiiiit. of a deep hi l-red colour. ] 



ceedingly diversified : Borne have the aspect ■ I 

 develop a head like that of a Bullrush (Typha) : others pu 

 of flowers, or an elegant panicle; while some have their bloom ii 



like that of Borne Cynara* us plant. In Bel 



rhizome, which is horizontal and branched, and which 

 up perpendicular flowering stalk-, is quite am 



* Tin- existence of a mycelium ' " r 



that in Rafflesia the i 

 n the formation of a cellular • 

 remarks that in Pilostyles and Cytinus, wl , re thi 



a common base or thaUus, !s n ndi red tl 

 which is dioecious, being produ ■ aama »» v 



groups, which are often vary dense, not unrri 



however, th:it this vie* is ined by so - cam ataiaa in 



both genera favourable to the hypoth y in Pile* 



