NATURAL ORDERS. 151 



Magnoliacem and Cedrelece, which are common to 

 America and India, have not been found on the continent 

 of Africa, nor on any of the adjoining Islands. 



Guttiferce and Hesperidece exist, though sparingly, on 

 other parts of the coast. 



A few plants really belonging to Meliacece have been 

 found on other parts of western equinoctial Africa, and a 

 species of I^^ea (or Aquilicia, for these are only different 

 names for the same genus) which was formerly referred to 

 this order, oc^u-s in the herbarium from Congo. 



M. de Jussieu, who has lately had occasion to treat of 

 the affinity of Aquilicia,-^ does not venture to fix its place in 

 tlie system. Its Resemblance to Viniferse in the singular 

 structure of seeds, in the valvular aestivation of the corolla, 

 in the division of its leaves, the presence of stipules, and 

 even in inflorescence, appears to me to determine, if not its 

 absolute union, at least its near affinity to that order. Of 

 VinifercB, Vitis is at present the only certain genus ; for 

 Cissus and Ampelopsis having, as Richard has already 

 observed, exactly" the same structure of ovarium, namely, 

 two cells with two erect colMeral ovula in each, should 

 surely be referred to it ; nor is there any part of the 

 character or description of Botria of Loureiro, which pre- 

 vents its being also included in the same genus. 



Lasianthera of M. de Beauvois,^ referred by its author to 

 Apocineae, but which M. de Jussieu has lately sug- [46s 

 gested may belong to Viniferse,' is too imperfectly known to 

 admit of its place being determined. 



forming a third section, from the remarkable evolution of its embryo and con- 

 sequent want of albumen. In the sestivation of calyx and corolla it agrees 

 with Jacquinia, which together with Theophrasta, (or Clavija of the Elora 

 Peruviana), forms the fourth section; characterised by the squamae, more or 

 less distinct, of the faux of the corolla, and by generally ripening more than 

 one seed. The fifth, includes only Bceohotrys of Porster (the Mcesa of Porskal) 

 which, having ovarium inferum and five barren filaments alternating with the 

 segments of the corolla, bears the same relation to the other genera of this 

 order, that Samolus does to PrimulaoeEe. On the near affinity, and slight 

 differences in fructification, between this family and Myrsinete, I have formerly 

 made a few remarks in the Prodr. Plor. Nov. HoU, 1, p. 533. 

 ' Mem. citi Mus. d'Hist. Nat. i, p. 437 et 441. ^ Flore d'Otcare, I, p. 85. 



' I.oc. cit. 



