76 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
an ovule ; this, in eveiy flower I have examined, exhibits itself 
in the form of a terete, narrow, conical, or subulate style-like 
column, rising out of a pentangular hypogynous disc, and sur- 
mounted by a distinctly clavate and undivided stigma. On 
making sections both longitudinally and transversely, there ap- 
pears nothing but a homogeneous fleshy mass : had I not en- 
countered the necessary elements in the New Holland species, 
we should have had no evidence to guide us to the real structure. 
I have already described the pistillum, existing in that species, 
as appearing like three subulate processes, conjoined for two- 
thirds of their length, the upper parts free and erect, the united 
portions forming three distinct cells ; one of these cells only 
appears ovnligerous, the ovulary body occupying the whole space 
of the cell and suspended by a short cord from the summit ; but 
on account of the great tenuity of the walls of these cells, the 
soft texture of the ovule, and the minuteness of the parts, it is 
difficult to extract it entire ; it bears at first sight the appearance 
of a single ovule, but from the overlapping of the visible edges, 
it would seem as if composed of two ovules pressed together : as 
I failed to separate them, owing to the reasons just mentioned, I 
cannot state with certainty that this body consists of two ovules. 
The analogy of this structure with what I have observed in Ste- 
monurus and other genera will be found most complete, and it 
offers additional testimony to support what I have urged, in 
regard to the normal structure of the whole family. 
I have alluded to the fact of the unusual occurrence of a 
raphe-like cord, imbedded in the pulp of the fruit, originating 
in the calyx, ascending along the external ventral side of the 
nut, and attaching itself to the strophiole of the seed which 
protrudes through the foramen just below the apex : this cord 
consists of two distinct threads, and apparently results from the 
extended remains of the two abortive cells, or it may consist- 
merely of the nourishing fibres, become thickened, that con- 
stituted originally the axile column of the united carpels : its 
marked appearance in such a position is certainly an occurrence 
worthy of notice. I shall be able to show, that under certain 
circumstances, this external cord disappears, and the phsenomena 
then observed all tend to confirm the inferences just drawn in 
regard to the true nature of this process. 
Another fact remains to be mentioned that offers very instruct- 
ive evidence. The two species of Pennantia from New Zealand 
and from Norfolk Island, both produce a drupe containing a 
solitary, hard, three-cornered nut, as has already been described : 
though very different in dimensions, their structure is precisely 
alike. The fruit of P. Cunninghami, on the contrary, encloses 
a thin, soft and coriaceous putamen, which is oval, 1 -celled, and 
