NAMED BAFFLESIA. 391 



its growth : and lastly, on finding these vessels in some 

 cases penetrating the base of the column itself {plate 20 

 (22),/. 1)._ 



Bat to judge of the validity of these objections, it became 

 necessary to examine the natm'e of this connection in plants 

 known to be parasitic on roots ; in those especially, which [ssg 

 in several other respects resemble Bafflesia, as Cytinus, 

 Apliyteia, Cynomorium, and BalanopJiora. On this subject 

 I cannot find that a single observation has hitherto been 

 made, at least with respect to the genera now mentioned. 

 Sufficient materials, indeed, for such an investigation are 

 hardly to be expected in collections, in which the parasite 

 is most frequently separated from the root ; and even when 

 found in connection with it, is generally in a state too far 

 advanced to aflPord the desired information. I consider my- 

 self fortunate, therefore, in having obtained specimens of 

 several species where the union is preserved ; and the re- 

 sult of the examination of these, though not completely 

 satisfactory, has been to lead me back to my first opinion, 

 namely, that the Great Flower is really a parasite, and that 

 the root on which it is found probably belongs to a species 

 of Vitis. 



An account of some of the more remarkable of this class 

 of parasitic plants, to which a few years ago I had paid par- 

 ticular attention, may hereafter form the subject of a sepa- 

 rate communication. At present I shall confine myself to 

 such general observations on the class as relate to the ques- 

 tion respecting JRqfflesia. 



In the first place, plants parasitic on roots are chiefly 

 distinguishable by the imperfect development of their leaves 

 and the entire absence of green colour ; an observation 

 which, as applying to the whole tribe, was I believe 

 originally made by Linnseus.^ In both these points they 

 agree with Bafflesia. 



A second observation which may be made respecting 

 them is, that their seeds are small, and their embryo not 

 only minute, but apparently imperfectly developed ; in 

 some cases being absolutely imdivided, and probably acoty- 



' FunffKs Mel Hens is, p. 3. Aman. Acad, iv, p. 353. 



