XX 



LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



inconsistency, as calling Galium and Asperula (the only two of the 

 genera I have examined) petalous is absurd. Mere colour is no- 

 thing, but in these we have a direct continuation of the so called 

 corolla with the outside of the ovary, or so called limb of the 

 calyx. Lindley's reasoning as to stipulse is objectionable, be- 

 cause stipulse whenever interfoliary^ or between two leaves, are 

 always single organs. If Stipulae are organs quite misunderstood, 

 what are stipellse of the pinnate leaves of Leguminosse ? A curious 

 structure exists in Galium, Asperula, and another very odd genus, 

 •with five racemose flowers, the four lateral ones with a large coch- 

 leate semipetalous bracte ; the outer cell of the ovary is invariably 

 abortive ! This structure is, that the ovula are reduced to their 

 nuclea, and that the inner layer of the ovarial cell is quite free, 

 and might easily be mistaken for an outer ovulary tegument ! I 

 have mentioned this to Mr. Solly. Have you seen Decaisnes 

 notes on the ovula of Thesium, which he says are much like 

 those of Santalum — most strange seeing that a Brongniart has 

 figured their whole developement in a very different manner ! 

 Brongniart is by no means a pattern of correctness, but this is inex- 

 plicable ! 



The reform that Macleay first, afterwards Swainson, Vigors, and 

 Horsefield, have extended to Zoology, must visit Botany, in which at 

 present there is very little philosophy. Half the genera will turn out 

 sub-genera, or of less value, and what shall he get who kills the 

 deer ? why nothing but obloquey and abuse. I well remember Sir 

 J. Smith expression of anguish at finding two species of Orchidea 

 making three genera. With regard to the names of our divisions, 

 our natural orders appear me to to be families, our orders corres- 

 ponding with Lindley's alliances. 



My next Paper to the Linnean Society, will be on Rhizanthse, 

 which are no more a subdivision than are Gymnosperms, I have 

 one Rafflesiacea, and a monocotyledonous representative of it, a most 

 curious plant, and several species of Balanophora, that is if the 

 figure in Royle is to be relied on ; this genus is a very difficult one, 

 and I have never yet been able to make out the structure of its 

 ovaria, though to be sure I had not the best of means. You have 

 never acknowledged my subscription to your list of subscribers for 

 two copies of both your illustrative works, this you m.ust really 



