On Azolla and Salvinia, 259 



The globose capsule has a rugose surface from the pressure of the se- 

 condary capsules within ; these are many in number, spherical, attach- 

 ed by long capilliform pedicels to a central much branched recep- 

 tacle ; each contains two or three cellular masses, presenting on their 

 contiguous faces two or three radiciform prolongations. In their 

 substance may be seen imbedded numerous yellow grains, the spores. 



The genus Azolla was founded by M. Lamark,* on speci- 

 mens without fructification brought from Magellan by M. 

 Commerson. M. Jussieu,f as I have stated, considered it a 

 congener of Salvinia. 



WilldenowJ who quotes Lamark, describes the fructifica- 

 tion as "capsula unilocularis radicalis globosa polysperma ?" 



It was first accurately defined by Mr. Brown in his 

 Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. ed. 2, p. 22, and subsequently in the 

 Appendix to Flinders' Voyage to Terra Australis, vol. 2, 

 p. 611, t. 10, in which it is worthily illustrated by that 

 great observer, Ferdinand Bauer. M. Meyen observes of 

 these illustrations, that they are so wonderfully complete, 

 that repeated examinations since have made scarcely the 

 least addition to what is therein represented. To this I 

 may add, that M. Bauer has even delineated the trilineal 

 mark on the yellow sac, which in itself is quite sufficient to 

 shew the real origin and nature of that body. 



It was again described and figured by Martius,§ from 

 American specimens. 



It has been observed in an original manner by M. Meyen,|| 

 with whose paper I am acquainted through a translation by 

 my friend Mr. Macpherson, Civil Surgeon, Howrah ; and 

 also by M. Rafinesque, but I have no access to his account. 



* Enc. Meth. 2, p. 343, t. 863, and Suppt. 5, p. 567. 



t Gen. PL 5, p. 17. 



t Sp. PL 5, p. 641. 



§ PI. Crypt. Bras. p. 123, t. 74, 75, f. 1. 



|| Nov. Act. Acad. 18, p. 507, t. 38. 



