Oe»..!M5.] // TAXED 1 - OH THE GENl S ' 



and Podophyllaceous genera agreed with ClTERNE's opinion with 

 regard to the position of the genus Achlvs (18, p. 718 et seq. I 



From an anatomical investigation HlMMELBAUB has been 

 led to the conclusion (0, p. 57) that the genus Achlvs has been 

 derived from Epimedium. 



The present writer agrees with the more modern investigators 

 in considering this genus as belonging to Epimedieae. He is, 

 however, of opinion that Achlys is more intimately related to 

 Leontice and Epimedium than to Jeffersonia. As a matter of 

 fact Jeffersonia is much more specialized than Achlvs in the 

 structure of its flower and fruit, although it has evidently been 

 derived from the same stock. Achlys, on the other hand, shows 

 a striking similarity to Leontice in the construction and arrange- 

 ment of the inflorescence, androecium, and gynoecium, but is 

 much more reduced in every respect. It differs from Epimedium 

 by having trimerous stamens with anther of valvular dehiscence 

 and a single basal ovule. 



It is very probable that the achene of Achlys has been derived 

 from a capsule. It is astonishing to find how highl}' differentiated 

 is the fruit of these allied genera, and this fact, which has been 

 brought about by biological factors, is of great interest. 



Summary. 



The genus Achlys is one of the very reduced types of Ber- 

 beridaceae. It contains two distinct species, A. triphvlla (Sm.) 

 DC. and A. japonica Maxim., the former being distributed on 

 the Western coast of North America, the latter in Northern 

 Japan and Northern Corea. 



The flowers are arranged in a spike, which has been derived 

 from a compound pleioehasial cyme and possesses a terminal 

 flower. 



The individual flower consists of nine stamens arranged in 

 three cycles and of a single carpel with a basal anatropous ovule. 

 There is no trace of perianth. 



The fruit is an achene. 



The genus is most closely related to Leontice and Epimedium. 



