1854.] Some account of the Botanical Collection. 643 



specimens of the Assam species, deficient in any envelope analogous 

 to a perianth or even partial bracte. Its habit presents nothing 

 peculiar ; it is not more characteristic of the " Amental" order than 

 that of Fothergilla or Corylopsis. Its anthers present no very 

 great peculiarity, particularly if compared with those of Fothergilla, 

 while its female flowers are in many essential points closely allied to 

 those of Bucklandia, in which, and 1 take this to be of considerable 

 importance, female capitula also occur, and the ovula are considera- 

 bly increased in number. 



The affinities of Hainainelidese appear to be sufficiently complex, 

 the first step to the simplification, the determination of the true 

 nature of the female perianthium not being settled.* In addition 

 to those already indicated, a relationship with certain Laurinese may 

 be suggested. 



Cucurbitaceje, Zanonince. — Of the two plants of this family 

 among the Chusan Plants, one belongs to a genus hitherto, I be- 

 lieve, undescribed. 



ACTI1TOSTEMMA. 



Char. G-en. — Flores monoici ; masc. rotati. Sepala 5, acuminata. 

 JPetala 5, acuminatissima. Stamina 5, soluta, antheris uniloculari- 

 bus. Fcem; Sepala et petala maris. Ovarium 1-loculare ; ovula 2-4, 

 parietalia apicem versus loculi. Stylus 1. Stigmata 2, reniformia. 

 Capsula echinata, semisupera, annulata, ad annulum demum circum- 

 scissa. Semina pendula, margine exarata. 



Habitus. — Herba scandens, tenera. Folia subliastata, dentata. 

 Cirrhi later ales. Flores inconspicui, viridescentes masculi panic ulati, 

 fceminei racemosi, pedicellis medium supra articulatis. Circumscissio 

 capsulse jper annulum cicatricis periantltii. 



A. tenerum. 



Habit. — In hedges, Sadiya, Upper Assam, also on the Khasiya 

 Hills. — Chusan, Dr. Cantor. 



*■ I have not been able to ascertain from dried specimens the nature of the 

 envelope of the pistillum of Licmidambar. Judging from the Assam specimens, 

 and the resemblance to the same part of Bucklandia, it is fairly assumable to be 

 calyx. Blume, however, who has described and figured the genus in detail, repre- 

 sents the envelope as derived from scales, united among each other. 



