Mr. J. Miers on several genera hitherto placed in Solanacese. 177 
_ Having now reviewed in succession the different genera com- 
posing the Salpiglossidee of Bentham, with the exception of 
Schwenkia, it is necessary to offer a few words upon that genus, 
the true affinity of which for many years puzzled the sagacity of 
botanists. | 
Linnzus had the penetration first to point out its affinity 
with the Solanee, an opinion which has been since quite disre- 
garded. It was afterwards considered as belonging to Primu- 
lacez, on account of the insertion of its stamens opposite to the 
lobes of the corolla. By Nees v. Esenbeck and Martius it was 
subsequently referred to Scrophulariacee (Nov. Act. xi. p. 47) ; 
but a note was added by Martius pointing out the greater proba- 
bility of its affinity to Acanthacea, because of the fissure of the 
apex of the dissepiment, a character which I have not observed 
in the genus. This indication has not been adopted by others, 
certainly not by Nees, who in his monograph on this last-men- 
tioned family (DeCand. Prodr. vol. x1.) does not aliude in any 
way to Schwenkia in relation to it. Mr. Bentham was the first 
to explain the apparent anomaly of the position of the stamens 
in regard to the lobes of the corolla, and to demonstrate that the 
‘intermediate glands seen in most of the species constituted the 
true normal lobes of the border, and that the stamens were con- 
sequently alternate, and not opposite to its lobes. It was there- 
fore placed by that able botanist next Browallia, a position that 
appears to me hardly satisfactory, on account of the valvate zesti- 
vation of the lobes of its corolla, and-because its anthers consist 
of two distinct cells fixed on the apex of a dilated membranaceous 
filament. For these reasons, I would suggest its nearer affinity to 
Fabiana, with which it possesses many characters in common: 
the cristate projection of the placentz from the middle of the dis- 
sepiment, and the insertion of the ovules in distinct linear series 
as described by Martius (loc. cit.), quite correspond with the 
figure I have given of the placentation of Fabiana (Ill. S. Am. 
Pi. tab. 17). Schwenkia however is a genus that requires more 
careful examination. | 
Having thus indicated those genera which I propose to sepa- 
rate from the Solanaceae, it is desirable to exhibit the arrange- 
ment of the remainder that will hence constitute that family. 
There is a considerable alteration in the view now offered, from 
that given on a former occasion, as since that time most of the 
genera have been more attentively examined, and their characters 
more accurately ascertained. I intend therefore in the sequel to 
present a description of the outlines, all now completed, of such 
of the genera as have not yet been delineated, enumerating at the 
same time the several species composing them (with the excep- 
tion of those of Selanum, Capsicum, Physalis and a few others), 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2, Vol. iii. 12 
