-Linnean Society. 273 
- Semina indefinita, adscendentia; testa cellulosd, tenuissima. . 4/bumen 
nullum. Plumula polyphylla, hilo subopposita. 
Obs, Character ex Crypt. ciliald omnino excerptus. 
Crypt. ciliata, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, spathz limbo tubuloso-convoluto 
apice dilatato oblongo-lanceolato ciliato. 
Crypt. ciliata, Fisch. 1. c. 
Ambrosinia ciliata, Roxb. Corom. Pl. t. 262. Fl. Indica, iii. p. 491. 
Hab. ad ripas limosas fluminis Hooghly zstubus alternis feré omnind 
submersa. Floret fructusque fert per totum feré annum. 
After a detailed description of the plant, and an indication of the 
errors into which Roxburgh and those who have followed him had 
fallen with reference to it, Mr. Griffith proceeds to trace the more 
remarkable anomalies from their origin through their various stages 
of development, with the view of reducing them to the ordinary 
type. 
The anthers, he states, may from a very early period be compared 
to two cups joined together by their contiguous margins, the wide 
and open mouth which they present in their mature state being ori- 
ginally clored by an extremely fine membrane, which also lines the 
cavity of the cup, in the interior of which the pollen is formed. As 
the anther enlarges this membrane assumes the form of a gradually 
lengthening cone, which at length becomes subulate and perforated 
at the apex. But this opening appears to be insufficient for the 
escape of the grains of pollen, and the membrane finally separates 
from the edges of cup-shaped theca, leaving the grains of pollen free 
and uncovered. ‘The agency of insects appears, however, to be gene- 
rally resorted to to ensure fecundation, the lower portion of the spa- 
tha being found during impregnation to contain many small flies, 
which have perished from inability to escape after the performance 
of their important duty. 
The ovula, at the earliest period of observation, are described as 
oblong bodies, having, a little below their points, a slight constric- 
tion, above which they are papilliform. At a somewhat later period 
the base of the papilliform nucleus is surrounded by an annulus, 
which Mr. Griffith describes as a growth from that part of the ovu- 
lum situated below the constriction, and which is the rudiment of 
the integument of the ovulum: it soon increases and forms a sort of 
cup, beyond which the nucleus at first projects considerably. ‘This 
Mr. Griffith regards as a good example of the correctness of Mr. 
Brown’s opinion as to the comparatively late origin of the integu- 
ments in the generality of ovula. As the development proceeds the 
nucleus becomes entirely enclosed in the cup, the mouth of which is 
gradually narrowed. After impregnation, the period of which is 
marked by the withering of the spatha, the centre of the nucleus be- 
comes more transparent, and is evidently excavated. The foramen 
is still visible, but soon afterwards becomes indistinct. The cavity 
of the nucleus gradually extends upwards to near the apex of that 
body and downwards towards the hilum; its lower portion is occu- 
pied by cellular tissue, assuming the form of a sac, and quite free from 
adhesion inferiorly ; while the upper third contains an oblong cel- 
lular body with a conical apex, which constitutes the rudimentary 
