172 



BURMANNIACE.E. 



[Endogens. 



The single genus upon which the order was founded, was placed by Jussieu in 

 Bromeliads. Brown stationed it as a doubtful genus at the end of Rushes, with the 

 remark that it is extremely distinct, both in flower, fruit, and inflorescence, and not 

 really allied to any other known plant, but more nearly related to Xyris and 

 Philydrum, than to either Bromelia or Hypoxis. Von Martius, who has beautifully 

 illustrated the Brazilian species, refers them to Hydrocharads. Blume, who added 

 two new genera, remarks, " that the order is known from Juncaceae by its tubular 

 perianth, which is petaloid, not glumaceous, and by the structure of the fruit ; it is 

 well distinguished from Irids by the station of the stamina, and the tranverse 

 dehiscence of the anthers." — Enum. p. 27. 



The genus Thismia, which offers many characters at variance with the usual 

 structure of the order, was placed by Griffith near Tacca, noticing at the same time 

 its approach to Burmannia in the structure of its seeds. Blume stations Sarcosiphon 

 near Thismia, in Cytinaceae. Ophiomeris, a Brazilian genus, closely allied to Thismia, 

 was believed by Mr. Miers to belong to Burmanniaceae, singularly differing from the 

 usual structure of the family in the form of its petals, the extrorse position and the 

 union of the stamens into a monadelphous ring, and in the circumscissile and oper- 

 cular dehiscence of its fruit. It disagrees with every other genus of this otherwise 

 always symmetrical order, in the very gibbous form of its tubular perianth : it agrees, 

 however, with Thismia, in its mouth being almost closed by an annular corona, and 

 by the tail-like form of its very elongated petals, enclosed and coiled in bud, thus 

 offering much analogy to the structure seen in Triuridaceae, which they also resemble 

 in their seeds containing an " inembryonal nucleus." The existence of extrorse stamens 

 would form a material distinction, were it not evident, that this circumstance is due 

 simply to the deflexion of the filamentary processes, for when turned up into the 

 usual erect position, they naturally become introrse. Although left here for the sake 

 of illustrating completely Mr. Miers' views, I cannot but think that Thismia and 

 Ophiomeris really belong to Cytinaceae. 



In reality the order must be considered to connect Orchids and Irids. 



Natives of marshy, grassy, and shady places in the tropics of Asia, Africa, and 

 America. Burmannia is found as far North as Virginia in North America. 



Apteria setacea is slightly bitter, and very astringent ; a similar flavour, something 

 like that of green tea, is discernible in Burmannia cacrulea. — NvMal. 



The following arrangement of the genera, and many of the previous considerations, 

 have been communicated by Mr. Miers : — 



1. BURMANNIE.E. 



Burmannia, Kra. 



Tri./iti rdln, Mich. 



Pojfi /;.«, Qmel. 

 Mdburnia, Thouars. 



Allan l/mlis, Walt. 

 (iony.mthes. HI. 



TripU ranthus, Wall, 

 Tetraptera, Mit re. 



Tripterella, Mart. 



GENERA. 



2. Apterie^e. 



Gymnosiphon, SI. 



Dictyostega, Mit /•.*. 

 Cymbocarpa, Mil re. 

 Apteria, Vfiutt, 



stt moptera, Miers. 

 1'tychomeria, Spruce. 



Numbers. Gen. 10. Sp. 38. 



Tridaeece. 

 ! 'i ismON. — Apostasiaceae. — Burmanniace.e. 



3. Thismie.k. 



Thismia, Griff. 

 Sarcosiphon, Bl. 



Ophiomuris, Miers. 



-Orchidaceae. 



