292 Mr. J. Miers on Goupia. 
Govrtace®.—Flores hermaphroditi vel subpolygami. Calyx 
parvus, 5-dentatus, dentibus eestivatione imbricats. Petala 5, 
linearia, eestivatione introflexo-valvata, apicibus longe propen- 
dentibus introflexis. Stamina 5, libera, introrsa, brevia, cum 
petalis alterna, intra diseum cupuliformem hypogyna. Ovarium 
globosum, 5-loculare; ovula plurima in quoque loculo, erecta, et 
anatropa. Styli 5, subulati, breves, late segregati, subdivari- 
cati, cum dissepimentis alterni. Stigmata subnulla. Drupa 
globosa, carnosula ; nux tenuissimus, 3-4—5-locularis, loculis 
1-2-3-spermis. Semina erecta; integumentum externum (aril- 
lina) carnosulum, raphigerum, raphe simplici, dorsali; integu- 
mentum secundum testaceum, evasculosum. Albumen carnosum. 
Embryo orthotropus. Cotyledones foliaceze ; radicula teres, ad 
hilum spectans. 
Arbores frondost Guianenses ; folia petiolata, paucinervia, venis 
crebris, parallelis, transversis ; stipule subulato-lineares ; flores 
axillares, parvi, umbellati. 
On a former occasion, when discussing the question of the 
relative affinities of the Icacinacee with the Celastracee, Hippo- 
cratacee, Aquifoliacee, &c.*, and determining the position of the 
former in the system+, I exhibited in a tabular form the lead- 
ing differential features of the several families that enter into 
the Celastral alliance. I now repeat the same under a more 
synoptical form, including the Goupiacee. 
1, Astivation of petals imbricate. 
A. Stamens outside disk. 
a. Ovules erect, with a ventral raphe, or sus- 
pended, with a dorsal raphe; seed albumi- 
ROOE sos sis-5-0 5 &odi0'6 oes See ee a Celastracee. 
B. Ovules suspended {; seed exalbuminous.... Chailletiacee. 
B. Stamens inserted inside or upon disk ......... . Hippocratacee, 
c. Stamens hypogynous; disk almost obsolete. 
a, Ovules suspended, with a dorsal raphe; coty- 
ledons large in regard to radicle ........ Aquifoliacee, 
8. Ovules suspended, with a: ventral(?) raphe ; 
cotyledotis aig 55% A Sie Fes aeecus . Cyrillacee. 
2, Mstivation of petals valvate 
A. Stamens inserted inside disk; ovules erect....... Goupiacee. 
B. Stamens inserted outside disk; ovules suspended Icacinacee, 
I may here observe that an essential point in the development 
of the ovules and seeds in the several groups above enumerated 
is the relative position of the raphe. It has been shown that an 
erect ovule with a dorsal raphe is a mere resupination of a sus- 
agai Nat. Hist, 2 ser, viii. 167-169, ix, 220; Contrib. to Bot. i. 27- 
+ Ann. Nat. Hist. 2 ser. ix. 221; Contrib. to Bot, i. 51. 
} With a dorsal raphe, according to Agardh, Syst. 294. 
