xlii 



LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITIL 



lopement, and physiology are brought into play, the first will 

 follow others. I might venture some novel doctrine, but don't like to 

 do it prematurely. I have studied development more than any one 

 except Schleiden ; and am convinced of the extreme importance of 

 it. But how difficult it makes the science ?. What do you think of 

 the article on Siphonodon, Roxburghia etc, particularly the remarks 

 on pitchers. Pitchers ought to teach people not to speculate on forms 

 in their mature state. 



I have not an Orchidea named positively ; neverthless, I will see 

 what I can do with ray own, and the garden sorts. I will send them 

 to you before long. Do not have much to do with dried specimens 

 of such things. I will see that the journal reaches you sooner: with 

 this you will get the last part of Jacks papers except the index, and a 

 brochure of my own. 



Bot. Garden, Deer. 2, 1843. 



I have received the specimens of Bentinckia, which I hope will 

 help me on. I should like however to see the fruit very much, and 

 spathes. It obviously is closely allied to Areca : some of which 

 also have the oblique fruit so remarkable in Bentinckia. It is ana- 

 logous to Cissarapelos in some measure. 



I am getting on with the first section or Calaminae, but am press- 

 ed for time : having Roxburghs Cryptogamia Mss. on hand, and 

 all the Garden work ; but in a place like this, so retired, and so fur- 

 nished with means, a man must not be idle. The Calamine section 

 alone will equal all the Roxburghian Palms together : they stand 

 thus. 



Daeraonorops 6. Plectocomia 4. Sagus 4. Eugeissona 1. Zalacca 6. 

 Calamus 24. To see the increase of species is surprising ; most of 

 the materials are frequently scanty to be sure. None of the genera 

 except Eugeissona are restricted, but all run one into the other : 

 and I do not separate Daeraonorops from Calamus. This genus I 

 divide according to the inflorescence. I find that characters of ve- 

 getation are of no use for practical means of distinction. Martius's 

 characters of Calami are mostly drawn from the leaves, the armature 

 etc. on which sufficient dependence is not to be always placed. I 

 preface the thing with a popular account of Palms, and the discrip- 



