54 The Genus Azima. 



Before, however, a decision on this point can be come to, 

 a comparison of specimens would be required. We know 

 nothing of Wallich's Monelia ? Branoniana (Cat. n. 7493,) 

 from the banks of the Irawaddy, no description of it having 

 as yet been published. 



Obs. II. — In none of the various descriptions of Azima 

 tetracantha, which we have consulted, is the stigma properly 

 described, except in that of Mr. Harvey. This no doubt 

 has arisen from two causes; first, the examination of dried 

 specimens alone ; and, second, from only examining the 

 male flowers, the abortive ovary in which is, as always noted, 

 conical and acute. 



Obs. III. — What are the long prickles which give to 

 Azima so formidable a character ? Meisner, supposing them 

 to be lateral with reference to the petiole, considers them to 

 be of the nature of stipules. They are, however, distinctly 

 supra-petiolary, articulated only with the bark, and easily 

 removed. From between the base of each pair there springs 

 either a cluster of flowers, or a small branch. To us they 

 appear to be magnified, and very much modified representa- 

 tives of those small scarious leaf-like scales which are found 

 in the axills of the leaves, and surrounding the bases of the 

 branchlets, in some species of olea. O. paniculata for ex- 

 ample. 



Obs. IV. — One of the reasons which M. Richard ad- 

 duces for keeping Oleacece and Jasminacece united, is the 

 circumstance, which he says he has discovered, that the 

 ovules of the latter order are originally pendulous as in the 

 former; but that they afterwards become erect in conse- 

 quence of the growth of the ovary, whose apex does not 

 elongate, while its sides extend considerably during the 

 growth of the fruit.* We have now before us recent speci- 



* Vide Lindley's Introd. to Nat. Syst. 2nd ed. p. 309. 



