connected with the Flora of Guiana. 231 



diversity of form in the fruit, arising only during its growth from the state of 

 ovary, is rather a generic than an ordinal distinction. 



Besides this difference in the fruit, Styrax and Strigilia have a definite 

 number of stamens, but their insertion and connexion at the base into a short 

 tube is the same as in Symphcos and Halesia. 



The character of Halesiacece derived from the winged fruit loses what little 

 importance might have been given to it, when it is considered that it is not 

 the "nut" itself that is winged, but merely the calyx inclosing it, which in its 

 development becomes fleshy in Symplocos, and herbaceous and winged in 

 Halesia, — a good generic, but no ordinal distinction. 



Lindley, in the second edition of his Natural System, besides the above 

 genera, enumerates under Styracece the five following : Diclidanthera, Mart., 

 Paralea, Aubl., Turaria, Molin., Morelosia, Llave, and Decadia, Lour. Of 

 these, Diclidanthera is the only one which is satisfactorily described, and 

 Martins is evidently right in ascribing it to Ebenacece ; but the separate inser- 

 tion of the anthers in the throat of the corolla remove it from the tribe or 

 order of Styracece : Paralea and Decadia appear also, as far as can be j udged 

 from the very imperfect descriptions, to be nearer the true Ebenacece than to 

 Styracece : Morelosia must be very diflferent, and may very likely belong to 

 Convolvulacece, where Don places it. 



With respect to the affinities of Styracece as an order, their alliance with 

 Ebenacece amongst Monopetalce, and with Humiriacecc in the first instance, and 

 in the next place with Meliacece, and perhaps with Aurantiacece and Olacinece 

 amongst Polypetalce, has been already pointed out, and have only been con- 

 firmed, as far as my observations have led me ; but my object not being to 

 give a monograph of the order, I now merely add the characters which I 

 should propose for such of the true Symploci as I am acquainted with. 



Symplocos. Linn. 



Calyx basi ovario adhaerens, limbo 5-fido, laciniis latis, sestivatione imbricatis. 

 Corolla gamo-petala, profunde 5 — 7-fida, basi erecta, laciniis apice paten- 

 tissimis, uniserialibus, sestivatione imbricatis. Stamina numerosa, 3 — 4- 

 serialia, erecta, basi in tubum coroUse adnatum coalita ; filamenta superne 

 libera, dilatata, imbricata, apice abrupte acuminata, Antherce ovatae, 



2 H 2 



