XXIII. 



811 



connected with Juncaginece. It is thus that we have united to Potamete, Ruppix, which has lntherto been 

 placed near Posidonia and Zostera. On the other hand, it is probable that when the fruits and seeds of 

 Halophiltiy Lemnopsis, &c. are known, a family will be made of these genera, which, by its manv-ovuled 

 ovaries with parietal placentation, will stand in the same relation to Naiadea that Butomcee do to Alis- 

 macece, which Aponogeton and Ouvirandra approach. 



It appears superfluous to discuss the modern view, based on that of Adanson, who considers 'as very 

 rational ' the affinity between Alismaeea and Ranunculacece, and we shall retain our opinion until we find 

 on examining their seeds, with or without a microscope, an albumen and a dicotyledonous embryo in 

 Sagittarifi, which Adanson believed that he had seen, just as he fancied he saw two cotyledons in the 

 seed of Reeds. 



If, in spite of the conscientious work and the sagacious observations which during the last hundred 

 and fifty years have so greatly advanced Botany, it is allowable to revive paradoxes that have been 

 absolutely condemned by science ; if mere superficial resemblance is sufficient to establish natural affinity, 

 we do not see why we should hesitate to follow Adanson in uniting, as he has done, Cyrarlea with 

 Palms, Aristolochiea; with Vallisneria, Polygala with Tithymalea, and so forth. 



XXIII. PALM^E, L., Juss., Martins, Blume, (fee. 



Chanuerops humilit. Polygamous inflorescence. Chamaerops humilif. Diaeram y. Chamceropt humilis. Diagram . 



