164 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



with Violetworts* ( Violates) than with any other order. And to this 

 opinion I adhere for the following reasons :— The stamens are definite 

 in number, the corolla is manifestly irregular, the placentation is 

 parietal, and the flowers are not isomeric, the parts of fruit being three, 

 while those of the calyx, corolla, and stamens are five. The main objec- 

 tion to this view is derived from the stamens being perigynous, and it 

 will be seen from the altered arrangements introduced into the present 

 volume" (from which these remarks are quoted. — K. R. K.) ' ' that I 

 now attach much more importance than formerly. "But it must be 

 remembered that Moringa is not at all more perigynous than Ver- 

 rucularia and others among Malpighiads, or than Reseda among the 

 Crucifers, or than Escholtzia among Poppyworts ; and that, in fact, 

 it may be very well regarded as standing in the same relation to 

 Violetworts as Escholtzia to Poppyworts. While, however, the 

 parietal placentation seems to turn the scale in favour of the near 

 affinity of the Moringads to Violetworts, there can be little doubt 

 that they also approach the anisomerous Sapindal alliance, especially 

 Milkworts, in their declinate stamens, one-celled anthers and petaloid 

 calyx." Such are the learned observations of the accomplished 

 Dr. Lindley of unrivalled botanic fame. To question his authority 

 would be mere presumption. 



The following observation in Professor Henfrey's Botany (edited 

 by Masters and Bennett, p. 235, 1884) may be read usefully in con- 

 nection with the foregoing remarks of Lindley. " The species of the 

 order Moringacece have been referred to the vicinity of the Legu- 

 minosce principally on account of their perigynous irregular flowers, 

 pinnate leaves and pod-like fruit. The structure of the ovary 

 entirely removes them widely from the Leguminosce on account of 

 the parietal placentation. Since, judging from the JRosacece the 

 occurrence of additional carpels in Leguminosce would be accompanied 

 by an apocarpous condition or at least by axile placentation. 

 Diphaca and Ccesalpinia digyna (Leguminosce) are in fact described 



* For the proper understanding of Lindley^ argument, I may here mention the 

 natural orders which he includes among the Violales. They are as follows : — 



FlacourtiaeecB,Laoistemaecs,Samydacecs,PassiJloracecs,Malsherbacec8, Moringacece , 

 Violacece, Frankeniacece, Tamaricacew, Sauvagiacecs, Crassulacece, and Turne- 

 racece. 



