Prof. Don's Munograph of the Genus Disporuni. 523 



This genus is essentially distinguished from Schelhammera by its sessile 

 biappendiculate sepals ; by the stamens proceeding free from the torus, un- 

 connected with the sepals; by the cells of its ovarium bearing only two 

 ovula ; by its somewhat baccate pericarpium ; and, lastly, by its axillary 

 peduncles, which are furnished with three small verticillate i)ractes. The 

 presence of appendages, the spreading sepals, free stamens, strophiolate seeds, 

 minute embryo, axillary int^orescence, and valvular fruit remove it equally 

 from Disporum. 



My acute friend Mr. Smith, of the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, first drew 

 my attention to the remarkable appendages seated at each side within the 

 base of the sepals, resembling those o( Paniassia. Mr. Brown having' pointed 

 out to me the intimate connexion of these curious appendages with the sepals, 

 and the entire absence from them of vascularity, I gladly seize this opportunity 

 of correcting an error into which I as well as Endlicher had fallen, in con- 

 sidering them as imperfectly developed stamina. These appendages appear 

 to be of the same nature as those occurring on the sepals of Caloc/iortus and 

 of many species of Liliuni. The chalaza occupies the middle of the seed, 

 which is considerably developed toward its outer and upper sides, and is 

 therefore, strictly speaking, hemianatropous, the adherent funiculus, which 

 is imbedded in the fungous enlargement of the integument or testa, not ex- 

 tending beyond half the length of the seed. 



Regarding this remarkable j)lant as a new genus, I had named it Tripla- 

 den'ia ; but Mr. Brown having pointed out to me its identity with the Kreysigia 

 of Reichenbach, the latter name is here adopted. 



In conclusion 1 may remark, tliat the cuticle of the under surface of the 

 leaves, like that of Paris and Trillium, consists of elegant sinuously lobed, and 

 somewhat stelliform cellules; the stomata are numerous, nearly orbicular, 

 and completely closed, but not arranged in regular rows as in the generality 

 of Monocotyledons. The testa is composed of cubical cellules, M'hich are 

 more or less irregular in their outline, and of unequal size. They have thin 

 walls, and are furnished with a distinct elliptical nucleus. The contained fluid 

 is of a rich amber colour, and abounds with extremely minute globules appa- 

 rently of an oily nature. The albumen consists of a homogeneous mass, of a 

 horny texture, and furnished with innumerable and regularly disposed cavities 



VOL. XVIII. 3 z 



