5 14 jP/'o/". Don's IMonograph of the Genus Disporum. 



from that family to the Smilacecv, the chain of connexion between them being 

 rendered complete by the intervention of a new genus, of which Sfrepfopus 

 luniiglnosus is the type. 



In the normal group of Melanthacecv, which is principally confined to 

 North Amei'ica, the floral organs are persistent, and the partial decomposition 

 of the trimerons pericarpium is almost universal. The MelantJiacecp appear 

 naturally to divide themselves into three groups, namely, the ]\Ielanthece or 

 f'erafreœ, in which the carpels are but partially concrete, the pericarpium 

 capsular, with usually septicidal dehiscence, the flowers frequently unisexual, 

 the perianthium less coloured, and constantly, as well as the stamens, per- 

 sistent, and the rhizoma fibrous ; secondly, the Colchîceœ, in which the peri- 

 anthium is more highly developed, the sepals furnished with long claws often 

 combined into a tube, the styles long, the carpels concrete, the pericarpium 

 capsuhir with septicidal dehiscence, the rhizoma bulbous, and the floral axis 

 naked and iiypogeeous; and, f/iinlli/, the ^Ingui/larieœ, having the floral 

 organs frequently deciduous, the styles short, as in the first group, the car- 

 pels completely concrete, the pericarpium capsular or baccate, with loculi- 

 cidal dehiscence, a bulbous or fibrous rhizoma, and a leafy axis. The genus 

 Colchlcum establishes an evident relationship through Sternbergia and Crocus 

 between Melunthaceœ, Amaryllideœ, and Irldeœ. The present genus connects 

 the family with SmUaceœ, and Tojield'ia as clearly with Junceœ, whilst a 

 comparison of the stiucture of Vvular'ui and Erythronhun fully makes out 

 their affinity with LiUaceœ or Tulipaceœ. In Uvularia, which is closely allied 

 to Disporum, the perianthium is also campanulate, with imbricate aestivation ; 

 the stamens adhere to the sepals at the base, and fall off" together ; the peri- 

 carpium is capsular, with polyspermous cells and loculicidal dehiscence ; the 

 ovula, whicli are arranged in two rows, are cuneate, angxilar, and carunculate 

 at the apex, with the raphe forming an elevated ridge along their inner side. 

 The flowers are axillary and solitary, and the capsule is turbinately triangular, 

 and sometimes, as in Uvularia grandijlora, tliree-lobed. The seeds are de- 

 scribed by Linnreus, Jussieu, Smith, and others, as arillate, but incorrectly, 

 they being furnished merely with a fleshy appendage at their apex, resulting 

 from an enlargement of the testa at that point. The same thing occurs in 

 Erythronium, a genus belonging to the LiUaceœ or Tulipaceœ, and which, 



