SAXIFRAGACE^E. g^ 



biloculares, longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Squamulce disci liypogynce 

 fl. masc. 4 vel 5, subcoalitce, apice dentatce; fl. fert. 8 vel 10, stami- 

 nibus altemw, scepe emarginatce. Ovaria maris nulla; fl. foem. 

 4 vel 5, discreta, libera, calycis lobis alterna, ovoideofusiformia, in 

 stylos attenuata: stigmata terminalia sidicapitata. Ovula gemina 

 collateralia, vel solitaria, pendula, subanatropa. Folliculi 4-5, com- 

 pressi, cartilaginei vel coriacei, intus longitudinaliter dehiscentes, 

 mono-dispermi. Semina oblonga, compressa; testa membranacea aut 

 superne aut utrinque alato-producta. Embryo subcylindricus, albu- 

 mine carnoso parum brevior ; cotyledonibus oblongis planiusculis 

 radicida cylindrica supera subdimidio brevioribus. — Frutices vel 

 arbuscidce Poly?iesicce ; foliis oppositis sen verticillatis simplicibus; 

 stipidis interpetiolaribus deciduis; floribus parvis panicidatis ; pedi- 

 cellis articulatis. 



This curious genus, founded on two species, one from the Samoan, 

 the other from the Feejee Islands, would appear to have more resem- 

 blance to Aphanopetalam, EndL, than to any other. It is remarkably 

 distinguished from all known Cunoniaceous genera by its wholly 

 separate pistils, of the same number as the sepals. Although very 

 different in habit and in foliage, it accordingly exhibits the floral 

 characters of Crassulacew, — an order which was already difficult 

 enough to be distinguished from Saxifragacew, on account of the 

 syncarpous ovaries of Diamorplia and Penthorum* In this respect it 

 also imitates Rosacece (from which the opposite leaves and albumi- 

 nous seeds exclude it) ; the pistils simulating those of a Spiraea, as 

 closely as the foliage and inflorescence of the species of the Saxifra- 

 geous genus Astilbe simulate the Spiraea Aruncus. The generic name 

 alludes to this resemblance, 



1. Spir^eanthemum Samoense, Sp. Nov. (Tab. 83.) 



S. ramis pubescentibus ; foliis oppositis ovalibus subacummatis bast 

 rotundatis serrulatis insigniter penninerviis ; panicidis folia exceden- 

 tibus; folliculis dispermis ; seminibus utrinque appjendicidatis. 



* It has even similar hypogynous scales, the want of which in Saxlfragacece. is sug- 

 gested by Lindley (Vegetable Kingdom, p. 344) apparently as a reason for not adopt- 

 ing the Grassulaceoe into the Saxifragal alliance. 



