324 NATURAL mSTORY OF PLANTS. 



Eiipomatin. Nobody now ignores the close relation between Magno- 

 UacecB iind Cali/canthea, so that we may call the latter Magmliacea 

 with a concave receptacle and perigynous stamens ; and if we sup- 

 ]->osed the organic apex of the receptacular pouch of a Calycanihm 

 drawn up till it was above the level of the insertion of the stamens, 

 we should have nearly the flower of one of the Maynoliece or 

 llUciea, according as the receptacle projected much or little above 

 the stamens. However, most contemporary authors have after all 

 rejected the apposition of the two types, thinking that they saw a 

 difference in the morphological signification of the floral sac of the 

 Calycanthea and of the Mommiacea, considering that of the former as 

 an axis, that of the latter as the basilar part of a calyx, i. e., of the 

 union of several appendicular organs. Now, we have shown' that 

 this sac is of axial nature in the MonimiacecB as well as in the Cnhj- 

 canthea, for in both groups it bears the same appendicular organs, 

 and there are several genera of Monimiacea in which it normally gives 

 insertion to bracts identical with those remarked in greater numbers 

 on its outer surface in the flowers of the CalycanthecE. The only real 

 difference between the two groups lies in the internal structure of 

 the seed ; and there are many natural orders where the same dif- 

 ference is presented, without its enabling us to found any larger 

 divisions than tribes, and even these are not alwaj^s well 

 defined. 



We now return to the Lauracece through Gomortega {Adenostemon), 

 whose vegetative organs are those of a Monimiad, but whose flower 

 and fruit, until verj^ recently insufficiently studied, have misled 

 botanists as to its true affinities."- With the seed and androceum of 

 many Mo/iiiiiiacecB, Gomortega has a pluricarpellary gyna^ceum not 

 found in the true LauracecB. But the diff'erent carpels cohere within 

 the receptacular sac into a single fruit with a plurilocular stone. In 

 the dialycarpous Rosacece we find the same thing in the secondary 

 group of the Pgrea, but yet no one dreams of separating them from 

 the rest of the order. Not that we would imply that there are not 

 very close affinities between Gomortega and the Laiiracece. On the 

 contrary, they are demonstrated by what we have just established ; 

 and, as we have said elsewhere^" " In as natural a classification as our 



' Adan-^onia, ix. 115. 2 See p. 315, and p. .316, note 1. » Adamonm, ix. 120. 



