CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
155 
extremely dark colour of its leaves and by their much greater 
thickness and opacity, thus offering a strong contrast to the 
light green colour of the typical species. In the latter the leaf- 
lets are 3-nerved from near the base, but in this plant no such 
lateral nerves are present ; in the typical species a portion of the 
early pubescence is always found remaining upon the nervures 
and petioles, but here they are quite free from hairs ; the petioles 
of the intermediate leaves are also much longer in this species. 
The internodes between the axils are 2^ in. long; the leaves 
altogether are 3^ in. long; the main petiole is 5 lines long; 
the two lateral secondary petioles are 5 lines, the intermediate 
one 12 lines long; the lateral leaflets are 17-21 hnes long, 
9-1 1 hnes broad ; the intermediate leaflets are 2^ in. long, in- 
cluding their petiole of 3 lines, and 10-14 lines broad ; the orbi- 
cular stipules are 6-8 lines in diameter ; the raceme is 2^ inches 
long, with about fifteen alternate male flowers. 
On the Natural Order Styrace^, as distinguished from 
THE SyMPLOCACEjE. 
In my observations on the affinities of the Olacacece, seven years 
ago, some remarks were offered* to show the relation which that 
order bears towards the Styracece, on which occasion I took the 
opportunity of pointing out the great difference in structure that 
I had remarked between the Styraceae and Symplocacece, which 
appeared to have been associated into one family upon very 
slight and insufficient grounds. These views were subsequently 
more clearly detailed in Prof. Lindley’s ‘ Vegetable Kingdom,’ 
p. 593, where the characters of the Symplocacea and Styracea 
were defined, and where analytical figures were given, showing 
the incompatibility of their respective structures. I was some 
time ago led to resume the consideration of this subject after 
reading the very excellent memoir of Dr. Asa Gray, entitled 
‘Notes on Vav<sa/ in which this learned botanist brought for- 
ward several arguments in opposition to this conclusion. This 
has induced me to collect additional evidence in support of my 
views, and to point out in still clearer terms the normal differ- 
ence of structure existing between these two families. I will 
prelude these observations by a review of the discrepant opinions 
of botanists in regard to the affinities of the Styracece, which 
seem to have been loosely formed, little attention having been 
paid to the peculiar structure and growth of the ovary, and the 
general carpological features that distinguish this family from 
all others. 
* Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 2. viii. p. 162; huj. op. vol. i. p. 22. 
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