Prof. Don's Monograpli of the Genus Dispoi'um. 515 



paradoxical as it may seem, ditfers only from Uvular'ia in its habit, less deeply 

 separated styles, and in the strictly marginal position of the cells of its an- 

 thers. 



The class of Monocotyledonous plants offers a beautiful confirmation of the 

 truth of the doctrine of the continuity of the series of organized beings ; and 

 however much the universal existence of transition or osculant genera in this 

 class may perplex the botanist who looks to the technical definition of his 

 groups as the highest object of the science, we are not to exclude such genera 

 from our researches merely because tlieir presence renders the circumscription 

 of our pretended natural orders more difficult, for they certainly form the 

 most interesting part of the study of natural affinities. 



Being aware of the near affinity of Schelhammera to Disporiim, I was induced 

 to examine a supposed species of that genus, which annually flowers and ma- 

 tures its fruit in one of the green-houses in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, 

 and I found that it not only differed essentially from D/sporum, but likewise 

 from Sehelhaminera itself, constituting a distinct genus from both. To enable 

 my readers the better to contrast its characters with Disporum, a description 

 of that genus is subjoined to the present communication. Having, as I trust, 

 sufficiently explained my views as to the affinities of Disporvm, I shall now 

 proceed to the description of the genus, and of the species belonging to it. 



DISPORUM. Sul'isb. 



Drapiezia. Bl. 



Uvularlï; sp. Ker, H^all. 



Streptopi sp. Sm. 



Perianthiutn 6-pliyllum, petaloideum, campanulatum, eequale, deciduum : 

 foUuUs basi saccatis v. calcaratis. Stamina 6, basi sepalorum inserta, 

 simulque decidua. Anthercv erectœ, extrorsœ, biloculares, duplici rima 

 longitudinalitèr déhiscentes. Ovarium liberum, 3-loculare : loculis bi- 

 ovulatis. Ovula coliateralia, adscendentia. Stigmata 3, recurvata. Pe- 

 ricarpium baccatum, indehiscens, turbinato-trigonum, 3-loculare, 3-sper- 

 mum, nunc abortu monospermum. Semina plerumque solitaria, laio 

 bina, subrotunda, fusca, Isevia, hinc convexa, inde planiuscula, hilo nudo 



VOL. XVIII. 3 Y 



