( 4o ) 



invenimus. Ei re vera, haud procul a vero abfuturos existimo eos, qui 

 Begonias Polygoneas polyspcrmas dtcunt (1). 



Cum Chenopodeis Polygoneae conveniunt : calyce monophyHo, pnrtito, 

 staminibus definiiis, imo calyci inserlis, germine unico supero monospermo 

 a calyce saepius tecto, albumine pleruruque farinoso; discrepant autem, 

 uti ill. R. Brown (2) optime dixit , radicula supera. 



Laurinew, etsi non manifesle affines, proxime tamen juxta Polygonearum 

 ordinem in systemaie naturali ab ill. de Jussicu jam positae sunt, neque 

 injusle. Calyce et praecipue staminum numero definilo, quorum series in- 

 terior saepius abortiva , eorumque insertione , satis couveniunt. 



Quae porro aflinitales generum Polygonearum iuter se spectant , qVum iis 

 rite indagandis neque tempus neque opporlunitas suffecerirft, pauca tantum 

 observabo, eaque non pro certis absolutisque tradam. Ad Atraphaxin 

 Polygonum accedit slaminum stylorumque indole, antheris nempe versa- 

 tilibus sligmalibusque capitalis, achenio lenticulari, embiyone unilaterali 

 albumineque farinoso. Characteribus , quibus Atraphaxis a Polygonis ditlVrt, 

 hoc genus Rumicibus affinius fit, nempe numero senario staminuru et 

 inaequalitate laciniarum calycis ( quarum dua3 interiores eaeque majores, 

 erectae, post anlhesin cum faciebus invicem anplicalae , achenium inter se 

 recipiunt eique integumentum accessorium dipterum proebeni ). Analogia 

 inter alas calycinas, quae in Polygono dumctorum et Atraphaxi fruclum 



(1) Liceat ipsa ill. auctoris verba huc afferre : <. What has just been remarked , of 

 tbe uncoDstancy of number in the seeds of particular plauts , and of its great diversily in 

 species or genera uearly akin, may possibly dimiuish the apparent absmdity of cwjsidering 

 the great differenccs between the frtiit of Begonia AuHPoljgonum or Rumex , and belwcen 

 that of some Campanulacece and the Compositce , as a matter , of but secuudary impor» 

 tancc, and may reconcile us to the opinion that such differences should give way, in both 

 cases , to strong points of agrectnent. Even the great ilistinction betwcen the inferior 

 germen of Begonia, and tbe superior one of ihc Ordcr of Polj-gonew Juss. , is invalidated 

 by thc above instance of T^accinium j and the coincidence of habit is so remarkable, that 

 J cannot but confess mysself very anxious to ascertain a decisive affinily, or analogy, in 

 fructification , lest the great foundamcutal pricciple of all sound botauical classification 

 should , in aoy degree , be underraiDed ». Gramin. of bot. , p. 216. 



(2) Prodr. fl. Nov. Holl. I, p. 418. 



