304 PHANEROGAM I A. 



by a thin and flat disk, perforated in the centre by the base of the 

 style; the central and very small cell nearly filled by the solitary 

 and anatropous ovule, which is suspended from its apex, without the 

 intervention of any perceptible placental column, whether free or 

 adnate. The ovule appears to be invested by a single coat ; but this 

 is uncertain. 



Although this plant appears to belong to the Olacacece (taking that 

 order in the most extended sense), I know of no genus with which it 

 may be particularly compared. If rightly referred to this order, it 

 must be viewed as a genus whose affinity tends toward Styracacece 

 rather than Santalacece. The adherence of the calyx to the ovary, 

 which to all appearance is perfect and immediate, is at variance with 

 Mr. Miers' diagnoses both of Olacacece and Icacinacece. In the points 

 in which these two groups differ, our plant accords with the latter, 

 except that there is only a solitary ovule, suspended from the very 

 apex of the cell. The elongated, quadrilocellate anthers, with their 

 cells annular-constricted at short intervals, giving them a wrinkled 

 appearance, are so different from those of any related plant known to 

 me, that I have derived from the latter character the generic name, 

 viz. : from ports, fiorttoq, a wrinkle or fold, and A$p, fafya, botanically used 

 for stamen. 



Plate 28. — Rhytidastdra Vitiensis. Fig. 1. A flower-bud, with 

 the short pedicel and a portion of the axis. 2. The corolla and 

 stamens, displayed. 3. Vertical section of a flower-bud, showing the 

 solitary ovule, &c. 4. A stamen, inside view. 5. The same, seen 

 from the outside. 6. A transverse section of the same, inside view, 

 more magnified. 7. Pistil, with the limb of the calyx removed, 

 showing the flat epigynous disk. 8. Transverse section of the ovary. 

 — All the details magnified. 



Subord. II. OLACINEil. 

 3. XIMENIA, Plumier. 

 1. Ximenia Americana, Linn, 

 Hab. Brazil, near Rio Janeiro. (Fruit oval, or oblong.) 



