BALANOPHORA CEM. 609 



^■colour similar to those presented by the Balanophoracece. The name 

 ^^■was given to the latter in 1822 by L. C. Richard.^ The genera 

 previously known were left among those of uncertain place.^ Jussieu 

 does not mention Sarcophyte, established by SpARMANNin 1776.^ In 

 1804 Vahl* made known Thonningia, the relation of which to 

 Langsdorffla was plainly discerned as soon as the latter had been 

 published by de Martius.^ Harvey discovered the genus Mystivpe- 

 talon only in 1839,^ and J. Hooker desGiihed Dactylanthus in 1856 J 

 By its gynsecium, the latter, as also Cynomorium, Balanojpliora^ and 

 especially Langsdorffia and Mystropetalon whose ovary is inferior, 

 closely resemble Hippuris, and it is next to this that most botanists 

 now agree with J. Hooker,^ Weddell, Eichler,^ etc. to range the 

 unicarpellar BalanopJioracece. They are moreover easily distinguished 

 by their parasitic character, their colour, their male flowers, the 

 simple organization of their ovule and seed, etc. 



Except Balanophoray of which a dozen species are enumerated, the 

 genera of this small family are monotypes. ^° In reality therefore it 

 comprises only seventeen or eighteen species, of which only one, 

 Cynomorium, is European ; another, Langsdorffia, from tropical 

 America, and Dadylanthus, from 'New Zealand. In tropical and 

 southern Africa are found the three genera Sarcophyte, Thonningiay 

 and Mystropetalon ; whilst all the Balanophoras known are from 

 tropical or subtropical Asia and Oceania. 



Balanophorece has even been considered as a ^ Mem. Mus. viii. 404. 



naked ovule, and the Gymnosperm theory has ^ j^ q^^^ (1789) 445. 



consequently been extended to them. It is by ' But it was not published till 1810. 



the study of the female organ of the Balano- ^ Act. Eolm. xxvii. : 



phorecB with central placenta, of their ovule and ^ Eschw. Journ. Bras. ii. (1818). 



their embryogeny, that the same parts of the ^ Ann. Nat. Mist. i. 



Loranthacece and Coniferce will be more satisfac- ' Trans. Linn. Soc. xxii. 



torily explained and vice versa ; so that, as we ^ Xoc. cit. 21. 



have alreadysaid, if the latter are gymnosperm s ^ DC. Frodr. xvii. 119. 



the former must necessarily also be considered '° There are perhaps two species of Mystro- 



as such, etc. petalon. 



