NYMPIIJSACE2E. 93 



Papaveracete ; all botanists have noticed this affinity, which becomes 

 the more striking on consideration of those species whose ovary is 

 imperfectly septate towards the centre, and those whose vegetative 

 organs contain laticiferous canals. On the other hand, the polycar- 

 pellary types are closely linked to PodophyUece and Panunculacece. 

 Besides the fact that Cabomhece were formerly referred to the latter 

 order, organogenic studies show that the flower of Nelumbo is at first 

 quite that of a Paaony or a Crowfoot. The carpels are at first free, 

 stationed apart on the top of the receptacle, and it is only in the 

 course of development that this gradually rises between the carpels 

 to form around them the sockets in which they are finally implanted. 

 And thus are explained the long-since suggested relations of Nyui- 

 phaacea? to Hydrocharidea and Alismacece. The latter, which come 

 very near the Crowfoots, cannot be far removed from Nywpliaacea, 

 though lacking the dicotyledonous embryo. As regards the sug- 

 gested relationship with Saururea and Piperacecs, which have a 

 double albumen, I fail to see wherein it lies ; and I am not alone 1 in 

 saying as much of the supposed kinship of Sarracenece and Pirolece. 

 Each of the series we admit in this order comes nearest some one of 

 the above-mentioned orders by its own proper characters. These 

 may be given generally as follows : — 



1. Cabombe/E. — Flowers 3-merous. Carpels free, inserted on a 

 convex receptacle. Ovules few, inserted in the ventral angle of the 

 ovary (floral organization like that of Alismacece). Double albumen 

 around the embryo. (2 genera.) 



2. Nelumbeji. — Flowers 4-, 5-merous. Carpels free, surrounded 

 by the accrescent receptacle, each isolated in a separate cavity 

 thereof. Ovules 1, 2, inserted on top of ventral angle of ovaries 

 (alliance to Panunculeae). Albumen absent. (1 genus.) 



3. Nvmphjse^;. — Flowers 4-, 5-merous. Carpels united on convex 

 or concave surface of a common receptacle. Ovules indefinite, in- 

 serted on the side-walls of the ovary cells (alliance to Lardizabalecs, 

 Podoplnjllece, &c). Albumen double. (4 genera.) 



4. Sarracenece. — Flowers 4-, 5-merous. Carpels few, coherent 

 into an ovary, divided completely or incompletely into multiovulate 

 cells (alliance to Papaveracea, &c). Albumen simple. (3 genera.) 



i « 



Affinitus cum Pyrola iivoposita nos omnino effugit" (B. H., Gen., 48). 



