38 
POSTSCRIPT. 
race®, from the hexapetaloid group at an early stage ; but 
that separation having been made, we must, in order to pre- 
serve any consistency, either leave all those whose leaves are 
not equitant in one order, or we must divide the equitant 
upon the same principles as those with leaves not equitant; 
viz. into triandrous and hexandrous, epigynous and hypo- 
gynous, the result of which would be that Hsemodoraceae 
would be equally broken up in the manner I had proposed 
to do, the only difference being that the hexandrous portion 
would be placed in closer affinity with Iridaceae. It is, I 
think, evident that it would not be desirable to introduce this 
feature for the mere purpose of making that discordant asso- 
ciation, unless it should appear to work well if applied as a 
previous limitation to all other monocotyledonous plants, 
which Dr. Lindley does not appear to have considered. But 
whatever might be the effect, I believe it is, like other pecu- 
liarities of leaves, too variable to be taken as a chief charac- 
teristic, for it is untrue with respect to Iridaceae, the only 
other order which is said to have leaves equitant. The whole 
of the common bulbous Irises or Moraeas have channelled 
leaves fronting each other like the Amaryllideae with a 
cylindrical base. They can scarcely be called equitant in 
Crocus. It seems, like the reticulation of the veins in 
Dioscoreae, which is not forthcoming in D. lucida, or like 
the plication of leaves, too uncertain to uphold an order 
or perhaps even a suborder, though it may be good as a 
generic characteristic. It appears to me, therefore, that it 
cannot be taken as a previous feature of separation, and that 
the hexandrous epigynous portion of Haemodoraceae must 
unite with the Amaryllidaceous plants in the first instance. 
I have distinguished them in such manner as I find con- 
sistent with the truth as far as I can ascertain it ; and 
whether that portion so distinguished shall be considered as an 
order, or a suborder, or a section, is a matter of discretion 
concerning which I feel perfectly indifferent ; but if it be 
made an order, other suborders of Amaryllidaceae should be 
equally exalted, which I think will not be found convenient; 
indeed, I understand the use of the termination acece to have 
been adopted for the express purpose of including the sub- 
orders, and preventing an unnecessary multiplication of 
independent orders. The fact is, that all the bulbous Ama- 
ryllidaceae have equitant leaves, though cylindrical at the 
base, instead of being compressed. The definition of the 
