Mr. J. Miers on sevei'al genera hitherto placed in Solanacese. 177 



Having now reviewed in succession the different genera com- 

 posing the SalpiglossidecE of Bentham, with the exception of 

 Schwenkia, it is necessary to offer a few words upon that genus, 

 the true affinity of which for many years puzzled the sagacity of 

 botanists. 



Linnasus had the penetration first to point out its affinity 

 with the Solanea, an opinion which has been since quite disre- 

 garded. Jt was afterwards considered as belonging to Primu- 

 lacecSy on account of the insertion of its stamens opposite to the 

 lobes of the corolla. By Nees v. Esenbeck and Martins it was 

 subsequently referred to ScrophulariacecB (Nov. Act. xi. p. 47) ; 

 but a note was added by Martius pointing out the greater proba- 

 bility of its affinity to Acanthaceae, because of the fissure of the 

 apex of the dissepiment, a character which I have not observed 

 in the genus. This indication has not been adopted by others, 

 certainly not by Nees, who in his monograph on this last-men- 

 tioned family (DeCand. Prodr. vol. xi.) does not allude in any 

 way to Schwenkia in relation to it. Mr. Bentham was the first 

 to explain the apparent anomaly of the position of the stamens 

 in regard to the lobes of the corolla, and to demonstrate that the 

 intermediate glands seen in most of the species constituted the 

 true normal lobes of the border, and that the stamens were con- 

 sequently alternate, and not opposite to its lobes. It was there- 

 fore placed by that able botanist next Browallia, a position that 

 appears to me hardly satisfactory, on account of the valvate sesti- 

 vation of the lobes of its corolla, and because its anthers consist 

 of two distinct cells fixed on the apex of a dilated membranaceous 

 filament. For these reasons, I would suggest its nearer affinity to 

 Fabiana, with which it possesses many characters in common : 

 the cristate projection of the placentae from the middle of the dis- 

 sepiment, and the insertion of the ovules in distinct linear series 

 as described by Martius {loc. cit.), quite correspond with the 

 figure I have given of the placentation of Fabiana (111. S. Am. 

 PI. tab. 17). Schwenkia however is a genus that requires more 

 careful examination. 



Having thus indicated those genera which I propose to sepa- 

 rate from the Solanacece, it is desirable to exhibit the arrange- 

 ment of the remainder that will hence constitute that family. 

 There is a considerable alteration in the view now offered, from 

 that given on a former occasion, as since that time most of the 

 genera have been more attentively examined, and their characters 

 more accurately ascertained. I intend therefore in the sequel to 

 present a description of the outlines, all now completed, of such 

 of the genera as have not yet been dehneated, enumerating at the 

 same time the several species composing them (with the excep- 

 tion of those of Solanum, Capsicum, Physalis and a few others), 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol.'m, 13 



