600 DR. M. T. MASTERS ON THE PASSIFLORACEA. f 
series are filamentous and widely spreading, while the inner row consists of a shallow 
folded membrane, the upper edge of which is often inflexed and crested or fimbriated. 
Within this is a small projecting rim, surrounding the base of the gynophore, and at 
some distance from it. In the subgenus Murucuia the membranous corona springs from 
the mouth or from the middle of the tube, and is either bent downwards or erect. 
Although considerable differences in the form, position, and number of the coronal 
series exist in the genus Passiflora, it will be seen, from what has been before stated,” 
that these characters are readily grouped under a few heads, such as :—the nature of the 
corona—filamentous, membranous, tubular, or annular ; its position—faucial, median, and 
basilar, with regard to the flower-tube and its form. "The form and position of the mem- 
. branous corona or operculum is particularly worthy of notice. In one division of the 
genus it is flat, in another crumpled and folded; in the latter case it invariably arises 
from the throat of the flower-tube, while in those cases where it is flat it may proceed . 
from the middle or from either extremity of the tube. It is important also to observe 
whether the membranous corona (the operculum of Sowerby) be erect or slightly 
inflexed, or whether it be decidedly deflexed. These points have been made by some 
writers the bases of distinct genera. I cannot, however, consider them of more than 
subgenerie importance; but, as will be seen in the remarks on the classification of the 
species of Passiflora, 1 attribute considerable importance to the short, crumpled, and 
often fringed corona, which characterizes a large proportion of the species *. 
The most complicated arrangement of the corona is that which oecurs in some species 
of Modecca ? e.g. M. tamnifolia (Pl. LXV. figs. 1-3). In this plant thére are two sets of 
staminodes—an outer series, of five distinct liguliform capitate segments placed opposite 
to the sepals (figs. 2, 3c), and an inner series, of five subulate antherless filaments con- 
nected together at the base and also placed in front of the sepals (figs. 2, 36). The 
corona is membranous, and springs from the tube of the flower at the same point as the 
petals. As seen in the mature flower, the corona is attached on either side of each petal, 
thus connecting these organs together, and sending processes inwards to each side of the 
inner staminodes, so as to form a series of closed pouches, enclosing the outer stami- 
nodes (figs. 2, 3f). The true nature of this extraordinary arrangement cannot be under- ` 
stood till fresh flowers have been examined in all stages of development. The illustra- 
tions on Plate LXV. show the arrangement of the corona and staminodes. The subulate 
inner staminodes are clearly the representatives of the perfect stamens in the male . 
flowers; but the nature of the outer staminodes is not so clear. They may be seen also 
in the male flowers of some species in the same situation (superposed to the sepals), and 
are sometimes spoken of as “ glands of the disk," a convenient expression, as involving 
no definite assertion as to their real morphological nature. Something like the curious 
pouches of this Modecca may be seen in some species of Butoca ; but these are simpler. 
Andrecium.—In the tribe Passifloreæ, as also in Malesherbie, the flowers are usually 
hermaphrodite. Passiflora tetrandra, however, a New-Zealand species, by some referred 
toa separate genus Tetrapathea, has unisexual flowers; and the same separation of the 
$ Tllustrations of most of the forms of the corona will be found in my ee of the American om sont 
in Von Martius and Kichler’s * Flora Brasiliensis’. 
