Mr. J. Miers on Goupia. 293 
pended ovule with a ventral raphe, and that a suspended ovule 
with a dorsal raphe is equivalent to an erect ovule with a ventral 
raphe, the former being a reversion of the ovule upon its funicle 
by the mere effect of pressure. These are distinctions of some 
value, which are generally neglected, but which ought always to 
be recorded. It will hence be seen that, although in one case 
the ovules are suspended and in the other erect, there is a nearer 
approximation in their development in the Icacinacee and Gou- 
piacee than the position of the raphe at first sight indicates. 
This circumstance and the valvate estivation of the corolla bring 
them into close proximity; but the insertion of the stamens in 
regard to the disk, the distantly separated styles, more numerous 
ovules and seeds, the nature of the seminal integuments, and 
other characters claim for the Goupiacee a very distinct position. 
I offer here a more ample diagnosis of the genus under con 
sideration founded on my own observations :— 
Govrra, Aubl.;— Gupia, Jaume St.-Hil.; — Glossopetalum, 
Schreb. ;—Calyx parvus, cupuliformis, 5-dentatus, dentibus 
acutis, eestivatione imbricatis. Petala 5, inter discum et caly- 
cem inserta, cum dentibus calycinis alterna, oblongo-linearia, 
‘apicibus longe attenuatis et inflexis, zestivatione e marginibus 
profunde introflexis valvata. Discus cupuliformis, calyce vix 
minor, inter petala et stamina enatus, omnino liber, glaber, 
dentibus 5 minimis remotis cum staminibus alternis margine 
instructus. Stamina 5, inter discum et ovarium inserta, cum 
petalis alterna, e basi erecta, omnino libera, discum paulo exce- 
dentia ; filamenta brevia, subulata, compressa, in connectivum 
latum apice truncatum ultra antheras extensum et hinc pilis 
longissimis patentibus intus instructum marginibusque pone 
antheras longe ciliatum summo expansa. Anthere bilobz, imo 
cordate, ad connectivum dimidio angustius dorso adnate, 
lobis ovatis, obliquis, utrinque rima longitudinali subintrorsum 
dehiscentibus. Pollen globosum, 3-sulcatum. Ovarium de- 
presso-globosum, disco fere omnino occultum, liberum, gla- 
brum, 5-sulcatum, apice umbone punctiformi signatum, 5- 
loculare ; ovula in quoque loculo plurima, fasciculata, e basi 
ex angulo versus axin adscendentia, cum raphe ventrali. 
Styli 5, remotiusculi, subulati, breviusculi, subradiatim diva- 
ricati, cum sulcis et staminibus alterni; stigmata inconspicua, 
glandulosa. Fructus drupaceus, globosus, calyce immutato 
suffultus ; pericarpium pergamineo-coriaceum, sulcatum, inde- 
hiscens, 3-4—5-loculare, dissepimentis sulcis oppositis, loculis 
1-2-3-spermis. Semina e basi erecta, oblongo-ovata ; integu- 
mentum externum (arillina) carnosulum, leve, raphe ventrali 
lineari immerso-prominente, hiloque fere basali parvo cavo 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. ix, 21 
