COXTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
23 
nective, an inferior ovarium, showing a strict union of its carpels 
into five complete cells, and seeds of very different structure. In 
the Styracea, on the contrary, we have a tubular calyx with an 
almost entire border, petals with a distinctly valvate aestivation, 
stamens in a single series, generally double the number of the 
petals, and therefore by turns, ojjposite and alternate with them ; 
here the anthers are linear, dorsally affixed upon a very fleshy 
connective j the ovarium is superior, wholly free from the calyx, 
with a remarkable pulvinate depressed epigynous gland; it is 
3-locular at base, the disse})iments separating from the axis about 
its middle, and gradually disappearing at the ajtex, where it is 
completely unilocular, the base of the style being hollow, and 
continuous with the cavity of the cell; the cionosj)erm rises in 
the axis above the point of the separation of the dissepiments, 
and to the axile column are attached three fleshy placentae, each 
bearing several ovules (about nine) in three rows, the upper 
series being erect, the middle horizontal, the lowermost suspended, 
the summit of each ovule being borne upon a cupsliaped stro- 
phiole, as in the Celustracea : of these only a single seed becomes 
matured, as in Olacacem ; it differs however in Ijeing erect, and 
showing at its base the remains of the abortive ()\Tiles ; the radicle 
of the embryo, enclosed in fleshy albumen, is directed to the 
point of attachment, as in Olacacece, but omng to the diflierent 
position of the seed, it of course assumes a contrary direction, 
and points to the base of the fruit ; the cotyledons are much 
larger and more foliaceous than in Olacacea. These jroints of 
structure are evidently quite opposite to what we find in the 
Stjmplocacea, and it is surprising they could ever have been 
associated together. The characters of the Styracece are how- 
ever analogous to those of the Olacacem, and there exists a very 
close affinity between the two families. The corolla is in no 
degree more gamopetalous in Stiyrace<e than it is in Olacacece, 
for in both cases the petals are valvate in aestivation, at first 
cohere slightly by their margins, and finally separate nearly to 
the base, where a short portion always remains agglutinated, by 
the adhesion of a very thin annulus, from which the stamens 
originate; but upon removing this annulus the petals will be 
found to separate easily, and not to be really confluent into a 
gamopetalous tube. We also see in Liriosma the same tendency 
to the adhesion of its parts, carried even to a greater extent than 
in any instance I have found in Styracea ; and in Schopfia, whieh 
is justly included by Mr. Bentham in the Olacacece, we see a 
still greater tendency to a confluence of its parts. If therefore 
the Olacacece have been placed by all botanists among the pleio- 
petalous orders, there can be no reason why the Styracece should 
be considered as a monopetalous family. The ovarium in Sty- 
