MR. JOHN MIERS ON G(ETZIA AND ESPADEA. : 191 
of their leaves to some genera of the Apocynaceæ : but the latter differ in their branches 
yielding a lactescent juice, in their opposite leaves, in their subpaniculated inflorescence, 
in their sepals mostly glandular at base, having a quincuncially imbricated «estivation, 
in the contorsive imbrication of the segments of the corolla, in their nearly sessile peculiar 
anthers, in their numerous ovules, with a different placentation, in their annularly glan- 
dular stigma, coherent with the stamens, and in their seeds; in such as have a drupaceous 
fruit (Hancornia, for instance), the seeds are immersed in pulp, the embryo being 
imbedded in a corneous or fleshy albumen, with a terete radicle. .Ranwolfia, however, 
has a 2-celled ovary, with two ovules in each cell, as in Espadea, but in all other respects 
the objections above stated remain in full force. 
The alternate leaves of Getzia and Espadea present such a remarkable resemblance to 
those of Chrysophyllum, that a first glance at the plants might suggest an alliance with 
Sapotaceæ ; but in that family the stamens are opposite to the lobes of the corolla, 
the anthers are generally extrorse, the ovary is multilocular, with solitary ovules in each 
cell; the seeds appear nucumentaceous from the induration of the endocarp in which 
they are enclosed, and are marked by large lateral scars, they have foliaceous cotyledons 
imbedded in albumen, with a terete radicle. It may be urged that Bumelia and Bassia 
have exalbuminous seeds, with large fleshy cotyledons and a small inferior radicle ; but 
there, as in all Sapotacee, the fertile stamens are opposite to the lobes of the corolla, and 
alternate with as many other sterile or fertile stamens, the anthers being extrorse, they 
have small bracteated flowers in clusters, a different calyx and corolla, no large hypogy- 
nous disk, a very different ovary, and a nucumentaceous fruit. 
For equally obvious reasons we must reject the Hydroleacee and other monopetalous 
families, which it will be needless to mention. 
After this search through various natural orders for some near indication of affinity, 
we arrive at the conclusion that there is not one of them in which Getzia and 
 -Espadea can obtain a fitting place, so that we are driven to the necessity, either of 
making a distinct family for them (Getziacee), or of placing them as a peculiar tribe 
_(Getziee), to be attached to some known Order; but I cannot suggest one with which 
they can be satisfactorily associated. Having already stated all the facts relative to the 
structure of these plants, I will leave it to others to determine upon either of the above 
alternatives, confessing at the same time my inclination to advocate the former course. 
I am aware of the objection of some botanists to the establishment of an order upon a 
few genera; but in similar cases it has been a more frequent rule with most authors 
to create for them a distinct position in the system, rather than to destroy the uniformity 
of the general characters of a family—a course which appears more conformable to 
reason ; and I might quote more than twenty instances where such — have aecord- 
ingly been based upon only one or two genera *. 
_ Wherever it may be determined to place this small group, its leading characters will 
be :—hermaphrodite flowers; a tubular calyx and corolla, each with a valvate æstivation ; 
exserted stamens, with versatile anthers, fixed near the base of the corolla, equal in 
* In the last volume of De Candolle's Prodromus, just published, embracing eight families, one half of these have 
only three or fewer genera, one of them being founded upon two, and two others upon only a single genus, 
