136 Mr. J. Miers on the Styracese, 



anthers tlorsally attached to broad filaments for nearly their 

 Avhole length, is denied by Dr. Gray, who refers to Halesia as 

 showing the contrary. This character is, however, extremely pro- 

 minent and constant in Strigilia and Pamphilio, where the free 

 portion of the filament is short, and also in Styrax and Cyrta, 

 where the filaments are relatively longer. I find also in Halesia 

 and Pterosiyrax, notwithstanding the greater comparative length 

 of the filaments, that the anthers, still of considerable length, are 

 linear, the two cells are parallel, separated from each other by a 

 distinct interval, dorsally attached by their whole length, and 

 each bursting by a longitudinal line in front, as in Styrax and 

 Stric/ilia. On the other hand, in Symplocaceo', in all cases I 

 have seen, the filaments terminate in a slender thread, upon the 

 summit of which almost oscillates a small globose anther formed 

 of two adnate cells, without the intervention of any apparent 

 connective, which cells burst laterally on their edges. This ex- 

 treme difference may be seen by comparing the excellent analysis 

 of Styrax officinale by M. Decaisne (Spach, Phan. pi. 136), and 

 Mr. Bentham's details of Symplocos laxiflora (Linn. Trans, 

 vol. xviii. tab. 18). The figures in Delessert's ' Icones,^ v. tab. 43 

 and 43, showing the stamens of Pampldlia and Foveolaria, are 

 not less instructive on this head. The features I have assigned 

 to each family in this respect are therefore well-marked, and 

 quite opposed to one another. 



5. I have fully demonstrated, in a preceding page, the very 

 different structure of the ovary of the Stijracece, as contra- 

 distinguished from that of the Symphcacece : Dr. A. Gray denies 

 the structure I have assigned to the former in the cases of Pum^ 

 philia and Halesia ; but he is certainly under misapprehension 

 regarding the former genus, as may be seen by reference to 

 Delessert's ' Icones Selectee ' (vol. v. pi. 42), where we find in 

 PampMlia styracifolia, as well as in Foveolaria ferriiginea 

 (pi. 43), a superior ovary wath precisely such a structure as 1 have 

 described. I shall presently show that the ovary of Halesia at 

 an early stage quite conforms to that of Styrax, notwithstanding 

 the subsequent difference in the development of the fruit and 

 seed, and that it bears no analogy whatever wdth that of Sym- 

 pilocos. 



6, The last objection refers to my definition that in the Sty- 

 racece the fruit consists of a unilocular putameu wuth a single 

 erect seed, in contradistinction to that of Symplocos, wdrere a 

 single seed of very different structure is suspended in each of its 

 five cells, and w here, by abortion, it is often unilocular : in op- 

 position to which. Dr. Gray shows that in Halesia often one, but 

 sometimes three seeds are perfected in as many distinct cells^ 

 and that two are matured in Pterostyrax. To this I fully assent; 



