130 
Bei den Familien der Helobise sehen wir die Bliiten alle méglichen “tufen von 
der Achlamydie bis zur Heterochlamydie, von der Hypogynie bis zur E. igynie, von 
unbestimmter Zahl der Staubblitter und Carpelle bis zu begrenzter durchmachen, und 
wegen dieser noch groBen Unbestindigkeit lasse ich diese Reihe den Glumiflora vor- 
angehen. Die Reihe gliedert sich in 3 Unterreihen, in die Potamogetoninew mit den 
Potumoqetonaceee, Najadarea, Aponoyetonre cz und Juncadinaceer, in die Alisminee und 
Butominew. Die Trennung der letzteren halte ich wegen der bei den Butomacez und 
Hydrochuritacee vorkommenden Stellung der Sa. auf den Wandflichen der Carpelle 
fiir notwendig. 
Encuer’s Helobiw referred to in the above quotation are, in my estimation, 
a collection of heterogeneous families bounded artificially by partial relations, 
(that is to say, bounded by this one in one case of these two families, but 
by that one in another case of those two families). The natural relations of 
the Helobiz to the others are accordingly, even in the present state of our know- 
ledge, very extensive. In the first place, the series is partly related to the 
Liliiflores and partly to the Farinose ; the connection with the former series 
is manifested in the Hydrocharitacese which bear some resemblance to the 
Tridacess and Amaryllidaces in the inferior ovary, while the relation to the 
latter series is exhibited also in the Hydrocharitacess which have the same 
kind of ovary in common with the Bromeliacese and share the axillary 
flowers, perianth and parietal placentas with the Mayacaces" (both of the 
latter series). In the second place, it somewhat approaches the Spathiflore, 
as can be seen in the relation between Zostera and the Araces”. In the 
third place, though it is placed far apart from the Ranales in ENGLER’s system, 
its alliance with the latter series is incontestable, as we can see a striking 
resemblance between the flowers of the Alismatacess and those of the Ranun- 
culacee”, in the numerous stamens, apocarpous gynscea, and in the habit. 
Further, some resemblange, although very slight, is found in the Triuridales®, 
in the numerous free carpels. It is also related to the Microsperme”, as the 
Hydrochavitaces are compared with the Burmanniaces and Orchidaces by 
Bentuam-Hooxer, on the ground that these families have in common the 
1) Nat. Pfk-fam. I1—4, p. 18. 2) Nat. Pfl-fam. IL—41, p. 291. 
3) Nat. Pf.-fam. I.—1, p. 229; Lorzy, J. P. — Vortrige iiber Botanische Stammesgeschichte, 
IL—1, p. 625. 
4) Nat, Pfl.-fam. IL—1, p. 237. 
5) Benruam et Hooxsr, Genera Plantarum IIL. pp. 449 and 456. 
