Miscellaneous. 141 



In its antherse, pollen, style, and stigma (all which parts are so re- 

 markably modified in Orchidea) Apostasia does not materially differ 

 either in form, structure, or economy, from the more regular-flowered 

 families of Monocotyledones ; and in its trilocular ovarium it is distin- 

 guished from all other genera of the order to which it is here appended. 



On the other hand it agrees with Orchidea in the structure, as far as 

 I am able to ascertain, of its minute seeds ; in the reduced number of 

 stamina, and probably, with some genera of the family, in the order of 

 their reduction ; in the filaments being at the base connate with the lower 

 part of the style ; and in a great degree in habit. In endeavouring to 

 estimate the importance of the several points of resemblance and differ- 

 ence here enumerated, with a view to decide on the degree of relationship 

 Apostasia bears to Orchidea, it is necessary to consider the relative posi- 

 tion of the parts of the flower in that order, and also in Scitaminece, the 

 family most nearly allied to it. 



The relation of stamina to the parts of the floral envelope in Aposta- 

 sia is in the first place to be determined. The two antheriferous fila- 

 ments, which I have more particularly examined in the unexpanded 

 flowers of Apostasia nuda, appear to be opposite to the two lateral seg- 

 ments of the inner series of the perianthium ; and the sterile filament 

 in Apostasia Wallichii, and no doubt also in odorata, is opposite to the 

 anterior segment of its outer series. 



Several years since I advanced the opinion, ' That in a complete 

 flower, whose parts are definite, the number of stamina and also of pis- 

 tilla is equal to that of the calyx and corolla united in Dicotyledones and 

 of both series of the perianthium in Monocotyledones.' 1 



It may be further observed, that in cases of reduction of pistilla it 

 is generally found, that the remaining carpella when more than one, 

 but inferior in number to that of our series of the floral envelope, cor- 

 respond in position with parts of both series, and with very few excep- 

 tions, whether distinct or confluent, are all equally developed. Stami- 

 na, on the other hand, in cases of equal reduction, generally belong to 

 one of the series only, or, if corresponding with parts of both series, are 

 usually in different states of development, as they are here described to 

 be in two species of Apostasia. 



This appearance of part of the inner series of stamina has not hi- 

 therto been expressly remarked in orchidea. It is not improbable, 

 however, that the same relation to perianthium exists in the lateral 

 antheriferous stamina of Cypripedium, 2 as well as in the sterile petaloid 



1 In 1826, in appendix to Denham and Clapperton's Travels, p. 237 



2 Prodr. Fl. Nov, Holl. 1. p. 309, 



