~ 200 NOTES ON CARRUTHERSIA AND VOACANGA. 
calyx and the first whorl of petals each consist of three parts only. 
Moreover, if the second or inner whorl of petals be carefully 
examined, it will be found difficult to resist the conviction that its 
five parts have arisen by the modification of three. As a matter of 
fact, one of the five is often obviously niger than the other four. The 
our smaller petals form two pairs, and each pair occupies an angle 
peooege ee of the outer petals, as shougli it represented a single 
would appear then that, theoretically, the inner whorl 
of Beis! ke the outer, consists of three parts, but that as a rule 
two of these give place to four by a process of dédoublement, and 
the number is increased to five. In confirmation of this view, it 
may be stated that on rare occasions flowers have been met with 
in which only one of the inner petals had been doubled, so that this 
whorl only consisted of four r parts. On other rare occasions all 
In these last cases the six parts were in three pairs, and the pairs 
alternated with the three outer petals. When the number of petals 
exceeds eight or nine, the extra ones are almost invariably within 
the second whorl, as has been stated already. 
Thus amid all the variations met with in the floral gate 
of Ficaria, a definite and fundamental plan is more or less clearly 
discernible, Of that plan the leading feature appears a ia a 
trimerous arrangement, in which Ficaria differs not only from its 
nearest allies, but also from the great bulk of dicotyledons. It 
would seem then, that, in addition to the important differences 
whorls. 
ether with this ceserntdats ion of distin ctive characters, 
Ficaria is entitled to regain its position as a genus, not, 
this occasion, attempt to decide. It is clear, however, that in any , 
case the descriptions usually given of it will need to undergo 
revision. 
NOTES ON CARRUTHERSIA AND VOACANGA. 
By R. A. Roure. 
Tue genus Carruthersia was founded by Seemann, upon material 
gathered at Port Kinnaird, Isle of Ovalau, a small island of the 
hes pend = single species, C. scandens Seem., being well 
red (Fl, Vit. p. 156, t. 30), at least as far as the flowering 
lant. In 
ag was added, Kopsia ? pilosa . Prodr., viii., p. 852, from 
ilippines, with — ollowing note :—* Fructus in utraque 
ipnotes, nam quod a Seemannio deseriptum versimiliter an plantam 
alienam (Orchipedan oy pertinet.” This second species is well 
