Mr. J. Miers on AXxtoxicum. 217 
five staminodes. To the former, little importance can be at- 
tached in an ordinal point of view. This organ is very analogous 
to the involucral calycule of the Chamelauciee, and, like it, 
breaks away from the base to allow of the opening of the flower. 
With respect to the nectarial glands, they must be regarded 
cither as portions of a disk, or (as just assumed) as sterile stamens 
(staminodes); we cannot admit the first hypothesis, because 
these processes do not support the ovary, but are quite free, 
hypogynous, and alternate with the stamens in the same whorl : 
the natural conclusion, therefore, is that they are metamorphosed 
abortive stamens, or staminodia. We must bear in mind that, 
throughout the Aquifoliacee, there is a general tendency to the 
suppression or depauperation of some of the floral parts, by 
which the flower becomes more or less polygamo-dicecious. To 
this reasoning it may be objected that hitherto the rule has been 
universal in the Aquifoliacee for the stamens to be equal in num- 
ber to the petals; but many other families could be adduced 
where, aithough such is the prevailing rule, exceptions (solitary 
or few) occur, where the number is double ; the occasional exist- 
ence of a set of staminodes, in addition to the usual number of 
stamens, is not unfrequent in families remarkable for their iso- 
merous proportions; and under this point of view we may be 
justified in admitting atoxicum within the limits of the Aqui- 
foliacee. But if it be thought desirable in order to preserve the 
consistency of the family, this genus might form the type of a 
distinct subtribe (4atoxicee) distinguished from the tribe [lici- 
nee by the peculiarities before described. In support of this 
view we may add that Chazlletia has similarly-shaped staminodes, 
placed in like manner in the same whorl alternately with the 
stamens. Similar processes appear to exist in Siphonodon, Griff., 
a genus referred to Aquifoliacee. 
From the analytical details before given, I now offer the fol- 
lowing amended generic character :— 
Aixtoxicum, R. & P.—Flores dioico-polygami. Mase. in di- 
versa planta. Bracteola membranacea, in calyptram undique 
clausam cum pedicello continuam florem involucrans, dense 
lepidota, e basi demum irregulariter rupta, et hoe modo 
decidua. Sepala 5 (rarissime 6), orbicularia, concava, mem- 
branacea, glaberrima, in estivatione valde imbricata. Pe- 
tala 5 (rarissime 6), spathulato-oblonga, apice obtusa, imo 
angustiora, intus carina longitudinali prominente extusque 
nervo instructa, margine crenulato-crispata, zestivatione quin- 
cuncialiter imbricata, apicibus introflexis et inter se plicatis. 
Stamina 5 (rarissime cum sexto rudimentario), petalis alterna 
et breviora, introrsa ; filamenta semiteretia, incurva, carnosula, 
