leaves, and that the difference between calyx and corolla depends 
merely on their relative position, we may observe that in Begonia 
re a ( “es feast _ ae peo I a —_— a to siren in 
both mz g the 
others in the bud, and which 3 in the females are in direct relation with 
the two principal wings of the ovary; these alone ought perhaps to be 
considered as the calyx ; whilst the others, whether two, three, or more, 
th 
pear to me to have all the distinguishing marks of pet 
One sruaees ie oe sma of a disepalous calyx with an adherent 
tube, may how the nervation of this supposed adhe- 
rent part, sence we fecha observe three wings or prominent nerves, and 
three intermediate less marked nerves. Let us however suppose the 
tube of the calyx so completely adherent as to form but one substance 
with the ovarium, we ought thus in the young state, when the cal 
is the strong organ, and the functions of the ovarium not yet called into 
action, to find the form approaching that which the calyx would give 
it, and as this organ withers away and the ovarium commences to de- 
pd itself, the outer form might be expected to suit itself more or less 
o the structure of the ovarium. Accordingly in the young bud, of 
sani sven at least, we find the tube very much sn ar 
the two edges corresponding to the midribs of the sepals prom 
nently wage one side perfectly flat with a vein along the sacs 
where the sepals may be supposed to meet, the other side convex with 
one corresponding vein sometimes winged and sometimes not more 
prominent than the other; and if in this early stage intermediate veins 
may be traced on the convex side and not on the flat one, the 
faint as to show that they are of a secondary nature, or perhaps belong- 
ing to the ovarium and not to the calyx. As the fruit swells after fe- 
cundation, the convex side becomes more prominent, the intermediate 
veins more marked; and finally, though even the fruit is usually very 
irregular, in this respect, yet we may sometimes see a nearly equi- 
lateral triangular three-winged capsule. In one species I have occa- 
sionally found one cell of the ovary not developed, and a regular 
compressed two-winged capsule. 
It is probable that no immediate affinities to Begoniacee can be 
traced amongst any plants hitherto known, and that some remote an- 
alogy is all that can be looked for with an order so strikingly charac- 
terised. Laying entirely aside the few orders still left amongst Mono- 
chlamydex, and neglecting also Monopetale, for it does not appear 
that anything but the dehiscence of the capsule, the least important of 
all carpological characters, led to the approximation with Campanula- 
cex, it is amongst calyciflorous Polypetale that we must seek for the 
nearest allies. Of these Hydrange and Umbellifere appear to me to 
