324 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Eupomatia. Nobody now ignores the close relation between }rn(^no- 

 UacecE and Cali/cnnthea, so tliat we may call the latter Miu/noViacoa 

 with a concave receptacle and perigynous stamens ; and if we sup- 

 posed the organic apex of the receptacular pouch of a Calycanlhui 

 drawn up till it was above the level of the insertion of the stamens, 

 we should have nearly the flower of one of the MaynoUea or 

 llliciea, according as the receptacle projected much or little above 

 the stamens. However, most contemporary authors have after all 

 rejected the apposition of the two types, thinking that they saw a 

 difference in the morphological signification of the floral sac of the 

 Cali/caiithi'cB and of the Muniiniaccce, considering that of the former as 

 an axis, that of the latter as the basilar part of a calyx, i.e., of the 

 union of several appendicular organs. Now, we have shown' that 

 this sac is of axial nature in the Monimiacea as well as in the Ca/t/- 

 ca/ifhea, for in both groups it bears the same appendicular organs, 

 and there are several genera of Monimiacea in which it normally gives 

 insertion to bracts identical with those remarked in greater numbers 

 on its outer surface in the flowers of the Cali/canthea. The only real 

 difference between the two groups lies in the internal structure of 

 the seed ; and there are many natural orders where the same dif- 

 ference is presented, without its enabling us to found any larger 

 divisions than tribes, and even these are not always well 

 defined. 



We now return to the Lcmracca through Gomortega {Adenostemon), 

 whose vegetative organs are those of a Monimiad, but whose flower 

 and fruit, until ver}' recently insufhciently studied, have misled 

 botanists as to its true allinities." With the seed and androceum of 

 many Monimiricece, Gomortega has a pluricarpellary gynajceum not 

 found in the true Lauracece. But the diflferent carpels cohere within 

 the receptacular sac into a single fruit with a plurilocular stone. In 

 tlie dialycari)ous Roxaceoi we find the same thing in the secondary 

 group oltlie Pgrec/', but yet no one dreams of sei)arating them from 

 the rest of the order. Not tliat we would imply that there are not 

 very close affinities l)etween Gomortega and the Laurarete. On the 

 contrary, tliey are demonstrated by what we have just established ; 

 and, as we have; said elsewhere,' "In as natural a classification as our 



Ailii,>'-un,n, ix. I i:.. - >,v |,. air,, Mild [i. :iHi, not.' l. •• Adansoni,!. \x. 120 



