STIPULES. 



391 



But I would limit the term bracteas, to the scales protecting flower 

 buds, or flowers : stipulae may protect both, although generally they 

 are destined for the protection of the former. 



The stipels of Dipterocarpus are in all respects analogous to those 

 of Ficus, and here too, their line of origin is very evidently above 

 the line of exsertion of the leaf. In this genus too, they are at first 

 foliaceous, but subsequently become coloured, Tig. 47, a. young 

 branch, h scar of stipel, c. scar of petiole. 



The supposition that in this genus, the branches are abruptly ter- 

 minate, and proliferous, each proliferous portion bearing one leaf and 

 a bud which is enveloped in one scale, (which besides appears to shew 

 no traces of composition,) seems to me to be quite natural. Fig. 48 

 a. branch, 6. petiole, c next the petiole, d. d hud, c. c. c. stipel. 



I would limit the term stipulie to those foliaceous bodies, which 

 originate on the same plane, with the base of the petiole, and with 

 which they have some connexion. Examples, llubus and Phyllanthus, 

 Even here their functions are ambiguous, I must compare the gem- 

 mation of stipulate, with ex stipulate plants. 



Polygonum is a truly stipulate genus, the composition is perhaps 

 indicated by the fact that the ciliae, excepting those (one or two) 

 answering to the anterior line of union, are furnished with distinct 

 vascular fascicles, while in these they draw their supply from the 

 contiguous one on either side. [Nothing at all in this, the distribu- 

 tion of vessels being very particulary irregular.] 



In the above notes I have overlooked a very important point, the 

 relation that the young leaves or branches of the bud, have to the ter- 

 minal leaves, or those to which the stipulee are referred. This con- 

 sideration at once gives the diagnosis, since if the stipulae be consi- 

 dered to form a new whorl of leaves, or to answer when the leaves 

 are alternate to a single leaf, the new leaves should be opposite the 

 old ones, this is not the case, they alternate with them. Again spines 

 should, if the stipulae are leaves, come from their axils, and not from 

 the axils of the leaves. In Vanguiera the spines which are abortive 

 branches, come from the axils of the leaves. 



The stipulae of Spermacoce, are not gemmi-tegent, stipulae (pro- 

 perly) being membranous, and evidently connected with the petioles. 

 The central arista is the largest. 



Mr. Herbert says in his Amaryllideao, that bracteae with regard to 



