Botany and Zoology. 



435 



the above-mentioned Monopetalous orders, the JRubiacecB, Apocynea, 

 GentianecB, and ScrophularinecB would be typified by large and dense 

 woods rather widely separated from each other, but the intervening space 

 would be dotted over with solitary trees or small clusters representing our 

 LoganiacecB. Many of these may be very near to the surrounding woods, 

 and considerable clear spaces may intervene between some of them ; yet, 

 in mapping out the country, it may be more convenient to draw the line 

 close round the frontiers of the whole space, than to portion it out into 

 projecting parcels annexed to the adjoining woods. 



On a careful examination, it will be found that almost the whole of the 

 LoganiacecB lie very near to some part or other of the vast field of Rubi- 

 acece, although by their free ovary they are absolutely and (with very few 

 exceptions) clearly separated. The connecting genera with Apocynece, 

 Gentianece, and ScrophularinecB are on the other hand much fewer, but 

 the union is much closer. With Scropkularinece. in particular, although 

 the general affinity is more remote, the few intermediate genera and spe- 

 cies are intermediate in every respect, in habit as in technical character. 

 The main distinction, the presence of stipules in LoganiacecB, disappears 

 very gradually, and the difficulty of drawing the line is the greater from 

 there being no general habit or family resemblance to unite the several 

 members of the LoganiacecB. A somewhat arbitrary decision is therefore 

 here unavoidable, and we can only direct our best endeavors to the adop- 

 tion of that demarcation which shall interfere the least with the circum- 

 scription of the allied orders." 



One of the most interesting facts of detail in the memoir is the identi- 

 fication of a second species of our genus Gelsemium (the so-called Jessa- 

 mine of our Southern States) in China (Hong Kong) and Sumatra ; and 

 another is the suppression of the genus Lgnatia, it being proved to have 

 been founded on the blossoms of the Rubiaceous genus Posoqueria, and 

 the seed of a Strychnos. a. g. 



4. The Flowers of the Pea-Nut (Arachis ITypogcea, L.) — Mr. Ben- 

 tham authorises us to state that the views formerly published by him 

 attributing to Arachis two very distinct kinds of flowers, — namely, one 

 achlamydeous and fertile, the other complete but sterile, — he is now satis- 

 fied are incorrect. The mistake here acknowldged was first pointed out 

 by Hugh M. Neisler, Esq., last year, in this Journal (vol. 19, 2nd ser., p. 

 212, March, 1855). Mr. Neisler, who has enjoyed the best opportunities 

 of studying the living and fruitful plant in Georgia, where it is cultivated 

 in gardens, came to the conclusion that " the flowers of Arachis hypo- 

 gcea are all petal-bearing and all fertile." This communication called out 

 an^ " additional note" by Mr. Bentham, (in the Kew Journal of Botany, 

 and reprinted in this Journal, vol. xx, p. 202, Sept. 1855), reiterating 

 his former views, and announcing that he had confirmed them by new 

 observations upon Arachis and its allies. Mr. Bentham now informs 

 us that he has been made aware of his mistake, recently, through the 

 examination of a large number of spikes of Stylosanthes from their 

 earliest stage of development. He remarks that " although I always 

 found fecundated ovaries very different in the shape of their short styles 

 from the base of the style in the unopened or just-expanded flowers; 

 yet after some time I succeeded in tracing, as Mr. Neisler has done in 



