RAFFLESIA ARNOLDI. 403 



but excited and determined in its form and nature by tbe 

 specific stimukis of the parasite. I expected, therefore, to 

 find it existing in the form of a covering to the bractese in 

 the early state, as in Cytinus. This point has been fully 

 confirmed, and is well shown in J\Ir. Bauer's drawings of 

 the very young buds.^ Prom the same figures it appears 

 that the parasite is occasionally found on the stems of the 

 Vine, as Dr. Jack had stated, but which seemed to me to 

 require confirmation. 



Of the structure of the female flower of Bqfflesia I [223 

 judged entirely from Dr. Jack's account in his letter pub- 

 lished in my former essay ; and respecting this structure 

 several important points, which even his subsequent tlescrip- 

 tion in the ' Malayan Miscellany ' did not supply, were 

 regarded as undetermined. 



Whether the ovarium is wholly distinct from the calyx 

 or cohering with it at the base, was the first of these points 

 which required further examination. The specimens now 

 prove it to be chiefly superior or free in the flowering state, 

 and wholly so in the ripe fruit. 



The internal structure of the ovarium, especially the 

 origin and arrangement of the numerous ovuliferous 

 surfaces or placentae, I considered one of the principal 

 desiderata. Dr. Jack's account of these placentae, which, 

 as far as it extends, is essentially correct, is confirmed by 

 Dr. Blume's description and figures of Bqffiesia Patma, as 

 well as by the more complete drawings which accompany 

 the present paper. The important question, however, 

 namely the analogy of this apparently singular arrangement 

 with ordinary structure, may be regarded as still in some 

 degree obscure. 



The transverse section of the ovarium presenting an 

 indefinite number of cavities irregular in form, having no 

 apparent order, and over the whole of wliose surfaces the 

 ovula are inserted, is hardly reconcileable to the generally 

 received notions of the type of the female organ ; and as 



» That the whole of this covering belongs to the stock, is proved by its con- 

 taining those raphides or acicular crystals which are so abundant in the root of 

 the Fiiis or Cissns, and which are altogether wanting in the parasite. 



