Polygalem.] 



CHILI. 



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genera allied to Polygalem ; but he observes that it recedes from them " in the number and structure of 

 the parts of the flower, and in the absence of a perisperm." Mr. Brown, too, as also St. Hilaire, refers it 

 to Polygalem. The flowers present peculiarities in their structure very unlike any thing' we have seen 

 in other plants. There are three bracteas, one on the stem at the insertion of the pedicel, the other two 

 opposite, on the pedicel itself, and decussating' with the lower bractea. The sepals are in a triple series ; the 

 lower, or that which is in the same line with the lower bractea, together with a similar superior one, are large)' 

 than the others, and exterior; the two intermediate ones are rather smaller and alternate with the exterior 

 pair ; the interior is still smaller, and is situated between the upper exterior and one of the intermediate 

 ones, usually that on the right, but, in some blossoms, that on the left, as seems to be represented and 

 described by St. Hilaire, under K. grandiflora. Petals 5 ; 3 similar in shape to each other, of which the 

 lateral ones are opposite to the upper exterior and to the interior small sepal, while the central one is inter- 

 mediate between these ; 2 fleshy petals are placed opposite the two intermediate sepals. Stamens 4 and 

 declinate, of which the two lower are longer and more bent, and alternate with the upper petals, and with 

 these and the carnose ones. The ovarium has the placenta on the side next the central upper petal; and die 

 style, bending first downwards towards the lower exterior sepal, afterwards rises towards the central petal. 

 Such is the structure that presents itself to us in this species, the only one we have had a sufficient oppor- 

 tunity of examining. It must be remarked, however, that this view of its structure is completely at variance 

 with the analysis of K. grandiflora, given by St. Hilaire, (Me'moires du Mus. v. 17. t. 31, and Fl. Brasil. 

 Merid. v. 2. p. 73,) for, by that able author, the insertion of the o vules or the line of the placenta is " a petalis 

 inferioribus aversum," while he declares the lower petals to be the three uniform ones. If, then, St. Hilaire 

 were correct, there could be little doubt of the genus Krameria belonging to Polygalem, each anther and 

 stamen with a double cell and double terminal pore being viewed as composed of two stamens, and two 

 anthers, each with a single cell and pore, or tending to show that in Polygalem each pair of stamens forms 

 but one ; but our species presents the very different arrangement we have described, and from it we may 

 state that, whether we take as our guide the subtending bractea, or the ascending style, which Brown finds 

 to be anterior in every plant, or the placenta situated on the upper interior side of the ovarium, we consider 

 the three similar petals to be superior, and, consequently, that an inversion of the common arrangement in 

 plants, and in the Polygalem, takes place here. The relative position of the sepals and petals to the axis of 

 the spike or bractea, is thus scarcely different from what exists in the Leguminosm, where Sir J. E. Smith 

 seems disposed to fix this genus. But neither is it altogether the same as in that order, for, looking at the 

 sepals by themselves, the odd one, or that which has least relation to the others, is undoubtedly the small 

 interior one : but with regard to the bractea, and a symmetrical disposition of the petals, stamina, and style, 

 the inferior must be termed the odd one, the two intermediate ones forming one opposite pair, while the 

 upper exterior, and the small interior, although placed in a very different series, must thus constitute the 

 next pair. Viewing the analysis in what way we will, we are beset with difficulties, which are increased 

 by observing that the two fleshy petals do not alternate with any of the sepals, but are opposite to the two 

 that are intermediate, which would almost incline us to believe, with Kunth, that these are abortive stamina, 

 and not petals. If Krameria belong to Polygalem, the arrangement and nature of the organs in that order 

 are still involved in doubt ; and if it be one of the Leguminosm, its nearest affinity is with the genus Cassia, 

 from which, however, it differs in very many important points. Perhaps some allied genus may yet be dis- 

 covered, and a new groupe formed, exhibiting an additional intermediate link between these orders. We 

 have not seen the ripe fruit, but St. Hilaire describes the cotyledons as auricled at the base, the auricles 

 surrounding the radicle, which perhaps led De Candolle and others to believe in the presence of a fleshy 

 albumen : that, however, is no objection to its forming part of Polygalem ; for in some genera truly belonging 

 to this order, as Monnina and Securidaca, the albumen has a tendency also to disappear. We may add, that 

 in our idea of the position of the parts of the flower, we are borne out by Ruiz and Pavon, Jussieu and 

 Kunth. The whole arrangement will be best understood by the following reference to the figures in 

 the plate. 



Tab. V. Krameria cistoidea. Fig. 1, Section of a flower-bud ; a. a. a. a. a. Sepals of the calyx; b. b. 

 The two inferior petals of the corolla ; c. c. c. The three superior petals ; d. d. The two lateral and 



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