INCOMPLETE. 



355 



distinct pores, upon a salver-shaped or subglobose column adhering to the 

 perianth, numerous, distinct or connate, or concentrically many-celled 

 with a common pore ; ovules very numerous, growing all over the parietal 

 placentas of the 1-celled ovary ; fruit an indehiscent pericarp, with a 

 great number of perispermic or aperispermic seeds with an undivided 

 embryo. Illustrative Genera : Rafflesia, K. Br. j Sapria, Griff, j Pilo- 

 styles, Guill. 



Some of the Kafflesiaceae occur parasitic upon species of Cissus in 

 the East Indies, others on Leguminous plants in South America. They 

 differ from Cytinaceae in the absence of a stem, the 5-merous peri- 

 anth, and the porous anthers. They are sometimes regarded as related to 

 the Aristolochiaceae. JRaffiesia Arnoldi, a plant of Sumatra, is a wonder- 

 ful object, consisting of a gigantic flower of fungoid texture, measuring 

 3 feet across, and weighing 14 Ibs., emitting in decay a smell like pu- 

 trescent flesh. This and other species seem to have styptic and astrin- 

 gent properties. 



AEISTOLOCHIACE^E. THE BIRTH-WORT ORDER. 



Diagnosis. Climbing shrubs or Fig. 441. Fig. 443. 



low herbs, with perfect, regular 

 or irregular flowers ; the con- 

 spicuous single tubular perianth 

 (tigs. 441, 442) (valvate in the 

 bud) adherent below to the 6- 

 celled ovary, which becomes a 

 many-seeded 6-celled capsule or 

 berry ; stamens 6-12, more or 

 less adherent to the style (fig. 

 443) ; anthers adnate, extrorse ; 

 ovules numerous ; seeds peri- 

 spermic ; embryo minute IllllS- Fig ' 441 . Mower of Aristolochia Clematitis. 



trative Genera : Asarum, Tournef . ; $8- *f- -Perianth of Asarum 



. . -, , . m ,, Jng. 443. Ovary and stamens of Anstolochia. 



Anstolochui, Tourner. 



Affinities, &c. The apparent stipules of this order are the first leaves 

 of an undeveloped bud. The six carpels are superposed to the stamens, 

 and it has been said that the styles are only outgrowths from the back of 

 the stamens. The ternary structure of the flowers of this Order, together 

 with an aberrant structure of the wood, which presents no concentric 

 rings, seems to indicate that these plants have affinities to such Mono- 

 cotyledonous Orders as Dioscoreacese, Aroideae, and Taccaceae, although 

 they are really Dicotyledonous. Their more immediate relationships are 

 obscure ; most authors connect them nearly with Nepenthacese, the 

 affinities of which, again, are not clearly made out. They have many 

 characters in common with Santalaceae. Their stamens, adherent to the 

 style, distinguish them from all other Monochlamydeous Orders. 



