348 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MAY 
nous insertions prevail; in the Umbelliflore only the epigynous 
occurs. The series Thymelzales, which formerly, following 
Eichler, I placed next to the Myrtiflore, I now believe to be 
only a subseries of the latter. In those families formerly 
regarded as Thymelzales perigyny, tetramery, a tendency to 
apetaly, and a small number of ovules in the carpels prevail, but 
every one of these characters also occurs in the Myrtiflore. The 
Halorrhagidacee and the Cynomoriacez I regard as representa- 
tives of an independent subseries, whose flowers show a most 
remarkable agreement with Hippuris. That the Umbelliflore 
belong at the end of the Archichlamydee is certain by reason 
of their one-ovuled carpels and mostly reduced sepals. The 
close interrelationship of the three families belonging here !s 
without question. . 
The opinion has often found expression that the Sympetale 
may be only monopetalous. This cannot be the case, and it 1s 
equally certain that the various series of the Sympetale ssh 
to be regarded as a continuation of the Archichlamydee. Whea 
sympetaly arose in prevailingly archichlamydeal series, wie 
sympetalous genera were naturally placed in archichlamy dea 
families. The subclass Metachlamydee or Sympetalz thus com 
prises those families in which connate petals have become oe 
rule. Just as the series indicates the stage at which ai 
genetic subseries have arrived, so the subclass Sympetalee wry 
be looked upon as a stage for morphologically further advan 
series. : 
The Ericales and Primulales belong at the begin ie 
Sympetalz, for here distinct petals still occur, and sad eae 
whorls are typical, whereas in the remaining series, wit ot 
ception of the Ebenales, only one staminal whorl is ges? 
The Ebenales are distinct from the aes : triplo- 
flowers are not obdiplostemonous, but diplostemonow” - differ 
stemonous, or they may contain numerous stamens. d se the 
from the Primulales in the septation of the ovary, ane” anil 
remaining series in the possession ‘of more shane 
whorl. 
ning of oe 
