382 ACCOUNT OP A NEW GENUS OF PLANTS, 



the flower, as well as to the disposition of vessels, this sup- 

 position will, I conclude, appear still more improbable than 

 that in support of which it is adduced. 



A second opinion, diametrically opposite to the former, 

 would regard the anthera of Rajflesia as only half a regular 

 anthera, whose two thecce are separated by portions of the 

 united filaments, which, being produced beyond the an- 

 therte, together form the crenated limb of the column. 



This view, though less paradoxical than the first, will 

 hardly be considered as affording so probable an explana- 

 tion of structure as the third opinion ; according to which 

 each anthera would be regarded as complete, made up of 

 two miited thecje, opening by a common foramen, and 

 internally subdivided into numerous vertical cells by per- 

 sistent portions of the confluent receptacles of the pollen ; 

 a structure not perhaps essentially different from that of 

 certain anllier?c more obviously reducible to the supposed 



type. 



Even in adopting this opinion, a question would still 

 sio] remain respecting the limb of the column under which the 

 antherse are inserted ; namely, whether it is to be viewed 

 as an imperfectly developed stigma, or as made up of pro- 

 cesses of the united filaments. In support of the former 

 supposition the nearly similar relation of the sexual organs 

 in certain Asarince may be adduced ; and in favour of the 

 latter, not only their disposition and form in other plants 

 of the same natural family, but also the vascular structure 

 of the column itself; the limb deriving its vessels from 

 branches of the same fasciculi that supply the antherse 

 (plate 18 (20),/. 1). If this latter view, however, of the 

 origin of the limb were admitted, it might be considered 

 not altogether improbable, that even the corniculate pro- 

 cesses of the disk of the column, each of which has a cen- 

 tral vascular cord, are of the same nature. For if, on the 

 other hand, these processes are to be regarded as imperfect 

 styles or stigujata, their number and disposition would in- 

 dicate a structure of ovarium to be found only in families 

 to which it is not probable at least that Itqfflesia can 

 be nearly related, as Annonacecs and the singular genus 



