CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
39 
having only a thin pellicular albuminous covering ; while its lower 
moiety, and two exceedingly diminutive cotyledons, are imbedded 
within the substance of the albumen, in ihe marginal sinus. 
These characters are so perfectly distinct from the Loranthacem, 
that it appears to me the genera above mentioned should form 
either a separate family (the Viscacece), or be considered as a sub- 
order of the Santalacece. The only points of resemblance between 
Viscum and the Loranthacea are, the position of the stamens 
opposite the lobes of the corolla or perianthium, the manner of 
development of their seeds, their glutinous properties, and their 
parasiticism, characters equally possessed by other families : they 
are certainly quite distinct in habit. Mr. Griffith states, that 
the Indian species of Viscum have three ovules suspended from a 
central column, thus agreeing with the Brazilian species, which 
I have called Allobium. The ovules of Viscum album are said by 
M. Decaisne to be erect, but I have elsewhere offered reasons 
why we may infer that they are in reality suspended, and only 
apparently erect, as in Champereia, &c. 
In first pointing out the affinity of the Loranthacecc with the 
Santalacece, many years ago (Prodr. 352), Mr. Brown probably 
had Myzodendron and Viscum in view, as at a later period (Linn. 
Trans, xix. 232) he has alluded more distinctly to the similarity 
in the construction of the ovarium of the former genus with that 
which forms a pecular feature in the Santalacece. In indicating, 
on the other hand, the relation of the Loranthacece with the Pro- 
teacece (Flind. Voy. App. 549), the same distinguished botanist 
probably had only Loranthus in consideration. The evident 
affinity of Viscum, just mentioned, was also remarked by Prof. 
Decaisne, in his memoir on the pollen of that genus, before 
cited, on comparing the ovules of Viscum album with those of 
Thesium. Brongniart (1843), adopting this view, aiTanged the 
Loranthacece in a separate class, with the Santalacece and Ola- 
cacece. The same affinity between these three families (at least 
as far as regards Myzodendron and Viscum) has since been con- 
fij’med by Dr. Hooker, in his veiy able investigation into the 
relations of the former genus (Flor. Antarct. 293) ; and the 
strongest evidence in proof of this affinity is given in the com- 
plete analysis of its ovarium, from its early development to the 
perfection of the fruit, the details of which are there exemplified 
in plate 104. fig. 10 to 20, and plate 105. fig. 12 to 21. 
After reviewing all that is here advanced, in regard to the 
affinities of the Olacacece, it is satisfactory to know that the con- 
clusions to which my own observations have led me have been 
in great measure already anticipated by the inferences of such 
distinguished botanists : it is therefore with more confidence that 
I now repeat the suggestion proposed some time ago {huj. op. 
