464 On two new Ceylon plants related 



previously explored the Southern Province of Ceylon, possibly 

 because they are so minute as not to be readily observed, and 

 also from their being restricted, as far as my observation 

 goes, to particular localities. I do not think, that any botanist 

 can read the description of Sciaphila, as described by Blume, 

 without feeling convinced of the very near affinity of it 

 to my genus Aphylleia, and it is with Sciaphila, I feel but 

 little doubt, that my plants range. Endlicher arranges Scia- 

 phila after Artocarpeae, amongst the " genera vix nota," adding 

 "affinitas plane obseura," and the difficulty of its classifica- 

 tion is increased by Blume's not having mentioned the 

 structure of the seed, which, if resembling that of my genera 

 Hyalisma and Aphylleia, would bring his plant nearer to the 

 Moreae than to the Artocarpeae. From both Moreae and 

 Artocarpeae, these plants may, however, be entirely separated, 

 because they are not lactescent, and it seems to me, that it will 

 be more natural to form of them a new group than to place 

 them amongst either of two orders, which, with the exception 

 of Dorstenia, are all shrubs or trees of large size, and very 

 different habit. From Urticaceae Proper they are readily 

 separated by the stamina, which are so remarkable in the 

 Nettle tribe for being inflexed when young, and when older 

 for the irritable and elastic mode of their development; 

 in habit they are nearer to Urticaceae than to either Moreae 

 or Artocarpeae. 



Amongst the Moreae I do not recognise any genus resem- 

 bling the plants under consideration. Dorstenia is probably 

 nearest, but very different. Amongst the Artocarpeae, Bro- 

 simum is remarkable for having stamina which burst after 

 the same method. The lateral style is peculiar, but common 

 both amongst Moreae and Artocarpeae. That of Sciaphila is 

 said to be sessile and punctiform, which is more after the 

 fashion of Urticaceae. 



I shall therefore not feel surprised to find botanists rang- 

 ing Sciaphila, Hyalisma, and Aphylleia, next indeed to the 



