462 Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon, 



further evidence of the relation which exists between Taccacece 

 and Orontiacece, The mode of inflorescence, though at first 

 sight very different from that of Tacca, is in reality nearly 

 quite the same, or at all events, is not greater than that which 

 exists between Anemia and Mohria, In Trichopus the lower 

 half of the petiole is evidently not simple, but formed by the 

 union of it and a peduncle similar to the one in Tacca, which is 

 shown by the united portion being round, while the upper, or 

 true petiole, is channelled on its anterior face. The pedicels, 

 then, arise from a sessile umbel, and the involucre of Tacca is 

 represented by the scales which surround their bases. 



Obs. III. — Jussieu placed Tacca at the end of his narcissi, 

 remarking that it resembled Aroidece in habit, but was 

 otherwise distinct. Brown was the first (Prod. p. 340^ to 

 point out its intermediate character between Aroidece and 

 Aristolochiacece, and nearly all succeeding writers on the 

 subject have adopted this view. The most material differ- 

 ence between Aroidece and Taccacece is the adherent ovary 

 of the latter, but this is only another example of the many 

 which exist where orders that agree in every thing else differ 

 in this respect, and by some systematists are widely sepa- 

 rated in consequence. For example, we find this to be 

 the case with Ericacece and Vacciniacece, with Gesneriacece 

 and Cyrtandracecc, and with Cinconacece and Loganiacece. 

 Blume considers (Enumer. 1. 82) that by the superior 

 perianth of Tacca the affinity with Aristolochiacece is evi- 

 dent; while Lindley (Veg. King. 149.) says that to him the 

 resemblance seems to be so slight as to be unworthy of 

 notice. For my own part I conceive that the relationship is 

 most completely established through Trichopus, which with 

 the habit of Anthurium has the stamens of Tacca, and the 

 capsule of Asarum. 



Kandy, Ceylon: 24th Sept. 1846. 



