412 ON THE FEMALE FLOWER AND FRUIT OP 



vascular bundles existing in various parts of Bafflesia, I too 

 hastily assumed the absence of spiral vessels, the expression 

 used evidently implying that I had satisfied myself uf their 

 non-existence in the fasciculi or bundles examined ; instead 

 of vfhich I should only have stated that I had not been 

 able to find them. 



The absence of spiral vessels has since been affirmed by 

 Dr. Blume vrith respect to his Rldzantlieas, consisting of 

 Raffiesia and Briigmansia ; and still more recently by 

 Messrs. Endlicher and Lindley, who, overlooking probably 

 the very positive statement of Dr. von Martins respecting 

 Langsdorfia, have equally denied the existence of spiral 

 vessels in Balaiwphorea ; and partly, perhaps chiefly, de- 

 termined by this supposed conformity and peculiarity of 

 structure, have referred Majjlesiacece and Balanojj/iorecB to 

 the same natural class. 



231] I have in the first place to correct my own error respect- 

 ing Babesia, in various parts of the female flower of which 

 I have found spiral vessels of the ordinary structure, con- 

 sisting of a single, easily unrolled fibre ; and on re-examin- 

 ing the same specimen of the male flower respecting which 

 my former assertion was niade, I found these vessels equally 

 distinct. Professor jNIeyer has ah'eady stated their existence 

 in the procumbent stems or rhizomata of Hydnora triceps ; 

 in which I have also found them in Hydnora africana, as 

 well as in other parts of the same species ; and in Cytinus 

 they are still more obvious. 



I may also add, that Avherever I had specimens of Bala- 

 nopliorecB in a fit state for minute examination, 1 have never 

 failed to find spiral vessels in various parts of their tissue, 

 particularly in Cynomorium coccineum and Helosis guia- 

 nensis} 



' Allliough in Rafflesiaceis aud in tlie genera at present referred to Balano- 

 phorea spiral vessels undoubtedly exist, in the greater number, indeed, 

 sparingly, but in some oases in liardly reduced proportion, it may still perlutps 

 be alleged, by lliose botanists wlio have proposed to unite both families into 

 one natural class, that the vascular system of all these parasites is uniform and 

 more simple than that of the far greater part of Plieenogamous plants ; thai the 

 spiral or slight modifications of it is the only form of vessel hitherto observed 

 in any of them ; aud that the large tubes or vessels, with frequent contractions, 

 corresponding imperfect diaphragms, and variously marked surface, which have 



