452 APPENDIX. No. V. 



notwitlistandiag the difference in calyx and inflorescence, is further confirmed 

 by a pecuharity in the aestivation of its corolla, wliich extends only to Lippia 

 and Lantana. 



OLACINiE. The herbarium contains a species of Olax differing from all 

 the plants at present referred to that genus, in its calyx not being enlarged 

 after fecundation, but in its original annular form suiTounding the base only 

 of the ripe fruit. The existence of this species, which agrees with those of 

 New Holland, and with Fissilia of Commerson, in having only five petals, and 

 in its barren stamina being imdivided, while in habit it appi-oaches rather more 

 nearly to the original species O. Zeylunica and to O. scandens of Roxburgh, 

 both of which I have examined, seems to confirm the union I have formerly 

 proposed,* of all these plants into one genus. When I first referred Fissilia 

 to this genus, I only presumed from the many other points of agreement that 

 it had also the same structure of ovarium, on which, not only the generic 

 character of Olax, but its affinities, seemed to me in a great measure to depend. 

 M. Mirbel, however, has described the ovarium of Fissilia as trilocular.-|* I can 

 only reconcile this statement with my own observations, by supposing him to 

 have formed his opinion from a view of its transverse section ; for on examining 

 one of Commerson's specimens of Fissilia dispai-iUs, communicated by M. de 

 Jussieu, I have found its ovarium, like that of all the species of Olax, to be 

 really unilocular ; the central columnar placenta, at the top of wliich the three 

 pendulous ovula are inserted, having no connection whatever with the sides of 

 the cavity. 



It was chiefly the agreement of Olax and Santalaceae in this remai-kable, and 

 I beheve, peculiar structure of ovarium, that induced me to propose, not their 

 absolute union into one family, but their approximation in the natural series. 

 I at the same time,j however, pointed out all the objections that ]\I. de 

 Jussieu has since stated to this affinity § 



Of these objections the two principal are the double floral envelope, and 

 ovarium superum of Olax, opposed to the simple perianlhium and ovarium 

 inferum in Santalaceas. 



The first objection loses much of its importance, both on considering that 



• I'rodr. Flor. Nov. noil. I, p. 357. + Aouv. Bul/el. 3, p. 378. 



+ I'rodr. Flor. Aov. Hull. \,p. 351. Flinders' Foy. 2, p. blO. 

 S Mtm du Mm. ttnisl. Nat, 2. p. 439. 



