4 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
show that the apical protuberance in question is a true epigy- 
nous disk ; or, if it be not rigorously demonstrated to be a true 
disk, it bears at least the closest analogy with that organ, for it 
appears to supply its place*. 
Whatever be the nature of the glandular areoles, a careful 
examination of the whole structure leads me to conclude that 
they belong to the region of the staminal tube, and not to that 
of the corolla, as Richard was inclined to believe, referring to 
Echinops, by way of analogy, where similar areolar glands exist 
in the bottom of the border of the corolla. In Calycera and 
Boupis, as examined by Brown and Richard, where these bodies 
appear on the tube of the corolla, below the point of apparent 
insertion of the filamentous ring, we easily ascertain the truth 
by laying hold of any portion of this ring, and tearing it away 
downwards from the corolla : we find the areolar glands come 
away with the filaments, showing that they form no part of the 
corolla. This fact is fmther established beyond doubt in Nast- 
anthus and Anomocarpus, where the same glands are found 
seated upon the free portion of the filamentous ring, above the 
point of its insertion upon the corolla. 
In regard to the prominent tubercle which crowns the ovary 
in all the Calyceracece, which Richard held to be a disk, all that 
I have seen tends to a conclusion at variance with the precept of 
Mr. Brown, which attributes to the flower in this family, as its 
essential character, “ the absence of an epigynous disk,^'’ and, as 
“ a necessary consequence ” of this character, “ the accretion of 
the base of the style to the base of the corolla.” We have strong 
presumptive evidence of the actual presence of an epigynous 
disk, analogous to that in Compositce ; and it may be inferred 
that the “ accretion” above mentioned arises from its intervention 
and confluence, both with the base of the style which it sur- 
rounds, and with the tube of the corolla, over the inner surface 
of which it is spread to a considerable extent, so that when the 
corolla falls ofi" we always find the bottom of the tube closed, as 
if by a plug, owing to its presence. The nature of the five 
areolar glands is somewhat connected with this consideration : 
they are always alternate with the stamens ; and then’ origin may 
be attributed to two sources : either they may be viewed, as 
Mr. Brown regarded them, as a row of additional abortive sta- 
mens ; or they may be considered as glandular protuberances 
appertaining to a disk extended, in the manner above mentioned, 
over the inner surface of the tube of the corolla. The former 
view will not stand the test of analogy, when compared with the 
numerous and varied developments seen in the neighbouring 
* Mem. Mus. vi. p. 72. 
