108 



DESCRIPTION OF 



In describing these two species I have been guided by the fact that in 

 some plants of the order the stamina are arranged all round the ovarium. 

 But I am almost inclined to believe that the flowers are in reality unisexual. 



The normal number of stamina is evidently five, the two intermediate 

 ones being alone fully developed, and the central one often entirely wanting. 

 The abortive stamina are entirely cellular, they are slightly constricted 

 towards their points, the part above the constriction being obviously more 

 cellular. 



The plants of the order to which Podostemon belongs, have such 

 an anomalous structure that it is scarcely possible to assign to it any natural 

 situation. The only points in which it agrees with some other dicotyle- 

 donous orders, are the absence of a perianth and the unilaterality of the 

 stamina, which last character however does not seem to be of much import- 

 ance. It is with much pleasure that I have been enabled to corroborate 

 the accuracy of Dr. Lindley's inductions as to these plants being dicotyle- 

 donous ; but it appears to me that they have no affinity with PiperacejE, 

 Dr. von Martius has remarked at some length on the order in his Nova 

 Genera et Species Plant. Brasil. 1, pag. 6, 7, and has touched upon its 

 affinity with Lemna ; but his reasonings are founded upon the supposition 

 of its being monocotyledonous. Putting this very strong objection aside, I 

 think Podostemon more allied to PisTiACEiE than to any other known order. 



Kaulfussia, Blume. < '■■'^-■^ 



Ord. Nat. Filices. Marattiace(E . Kaulf. 

 Syst. Linn. Cryptogamia, Filices. 



Char. Gen. Capsulse sparsae, exsertse, orbiculari-cyathiformes, multi- 

 loculares. Indusium nullum. 



Filices frondibus ternatis amplis, subtus stomatibus maximis apertis 

 quasi perforatis, stipitibus basi bisquamatis, capsulis subsessilibus. 



Kaulfussia Assamica. Griff. Mssr. 



Fronde triphylla, foliolis subsessilibus, stipitibus teretibus, capsulis 

 sub-20-locularibus, loculis per dimidiam longitudinem tantum dehiscentibus, 



