COXTRIBUTIOXS TO BOTANY. 
285 
6 lines long, terminating in a head of closely approximated 
rays, each bearing two pedicellated flowers ; these are darkish, 
2\ lines in diameter when expanded. 
38. Tristichocalyx. 
This genus has been established by Dr. Mueller, upon suffi- 
ciently valid grounds, for an Australian plant which had been 
referred to Pachygone by Mr. Bentham ; but the structure of its 
seed shows that it belongs to a diffei’ent tribe (the Platygonea), 
its station being near Cocculus. Dr. Mueller considered that 
its place was close to Tinomiscium : but it does not bear the 
slightest analogy with that genus ; in habit it resembles some 
species of Limacia. Dr. Mueller’s description of the fruit and 
seed is not as clear as might be desired ; but if I understand it 
rightly, the embryo is imbedded in copious simple albumen, 
has a superior short terete radicle, with somewhat large, oval, 
thin, foliaceons cotyledons, which are incumbently curved, with 
one face directed to the condyle, as in Cocculus ; at least, that 
is what 1 understand by his expression “cotyledones latse, te- 
nerrime membranacese, sibi applicitse.” There is a seed of this 
plant in the Hookerian herbarium, which has been broken into 
fragments in the attempt to analyze it : there we find some por- 
tions of the albumen, which is of a solid waxy consistence ; the 
radicle is terete, attached to half of one of the cotyledons, the 
other one being deficient. From this and the broken putamen, 
assisted by Dr. Mueller’s details, I have drawn up the following 
generic character. 
I may take this opportunity of recommending any botanist 
desirous of analyzing any Menispermaceous seed to adopt the 
method I have always successfully followed — after macerating 
and freeing the putamen from its pericarpial covering, to intro- 
duce the point of the dissecting-knife along the peripheral line 
of suture, when it is easily separated into two valves, leaving the 
kernel in an entire state : we thus see the true form of the cell, 
its position with regard to the condyle, and the mode of attach- 
ment of the seed, the embryo and the albumen, if present, being 
thus obtained whole and uninjured. 
In the herbarium of the late Dr. Bindley, I found an Austra- 
lian plant, collected in Capt. Mitchel’s exploring expedition, 
which may be considered a second species of this genus: this 
has enabled me to render the generic character more complete. 
Tristichocalyx, F. Muell. — Flores dioici. Masc. Sepala 9, 
3-serialia, extus alternatim minora, exteriora lanceolata, in- 
