114 BOTANY OF CONGO. 



point of structure of its flower, and in most respects in 

 that of its seed. 



Oxalis, indeed, differs from Averrhoa in the texture of its 

 fruits, in some respects in the structure of its seed ; and 

 very widely in habit, in the greater part of its species. 

 The difference in habit, however, is not so great in some 

 species of Oxahs ; as for example, in those with pinnated 

 and even ternate leaves from equinoctial America ; and in 

 that natural division of the genus including 0. sensitiva, 

 of which there are two species in the Congo herbarium. 

 433] This latter section of Oxalis^ agrees also with Averrhoa 

 Caramholc^ in the foliola, when irritated, being reflected or 

 dependent, which is likewise their position in the state of 

 collapsion or sleep, in all the species of both genera. 



To the natural order formed by Oxalis and Averrhoa, 

 the name of Oxalide^ may be given, in preference to 

 that of Sensitive, under which, however, Batsch' was the 

 first to propose the association of these two genera, and to 

 point out their agreement in sensible qualities and irrita- 

 bihty of leaves. 



M. de Jussieu, in a memoir recently published,''' has 

 proposed to remove Oxalis from Geraniacese, to which he 

 had formerly annexed it, and to unite it with Diosmese. 



It appears to me to have a much nearer affinity to 

 ZygopliyllecB^ though it is surely less intimately connected 

 with that order than with Averrhoa. 



I am aware that M. Correa de Serra, one of the most 

 profound and philosophical botanists of the present age, 

 has considered Averrhoa as nearly related to Rhamnese^ or 

 rather to Celastrinse ; from which, however, it differs in the 

 number and insertion of stamina and especially in the 

 direction of the embryo, with respect to the pericarpium. 



In all these characters Averrhoa agrees with Oxalis ; its 

 relation to which is further confirmed on considering the 

 appendage of the seed or arillus, whose modifications in 



1 Herba sentiens, Rumph. Amboin. 5, p. 301. 



2 Bruce in Philos. Transact. 75, p. 356. ^ fab. affin. p. 23. 



" Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 3, p. 448. ^ Flinders s Voy. 2, p. 545. (Ante, 

 ^ Annul, du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 8, p. Ti. p. 16.) 



