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Umbelliferse ; Ericaceae border closely upon Celastraceae through Cyrilia ; 
Aquifoliacese have a similar relation ; Ebenaceae almost touch Guttiferae, &c. &c. 
Tliey may also be said to approach Incompletae by way of Solanaceae and 
Nyctaginaceae, while Salvadoraceae join Chenopodiaceae by way of Galenia. 
Upon attentively considering the orders of which this sub-class consists, it 
is at once obvious that there is a cluster of plants with the ovary either 
originally split, or finally splitting into little nuts, as in Labiatae in the first 
instance, and Verbenaceae in the last. These naturally separate from the 
remainder and may be designated the Nucamentaceous group ; all the orders 
belonging to this group have an ovary constructed ‘ upon a bicarpellary type. 
Agreeing with these in the latter circumstance, but disagreeing in their fruit 
being nucamentaceous ; having, on the contrary, a capsular fruit with a 
manifest central placenta, some with regular, some with irregular, flowers, is 
another set of orders to which the name Dicarposce may be applied. Thirdly, 
we have a very large number of plants, the fruit of which is usually inferior, 
belonging to orders, a part of which have the ovary constructed with one 
carpel, and another part with two or more carpels ; these facts give us two 
more groups, the Epigynous and the Aggregose, the former usually having 
the flowers loosely arranged, the latter in dense round heads. Finally, the 
remainder of the orders of Monopetalous Dicotyledons form a fifth natm-al 
assemblage, essentially distinguished by having more cai*pels than two, sym- 
metrical flowers, and a superior ovary. To these the name of Polycarpous may 
be conveniently applied. Hence the groups are — 
1. IPolgcarpoeae* Flowers hypogynous. Carpels more than 2. 
2. (IBpi02no0ae* Flowers epigynous. Carpels 2 or more. 
3. aG0reco0ae* 
4. ii5ucamcrtto0aCf 
5. 2)icarpo0ae* 
Carpels single. 
Fruit consisting of several (usually 4) lobes, which are 
either originally distinct, or separate from each other 
when ripe, without any trace of a central placenta. 
Fruit bicai-pellary, capsular. 
The two last groups might be arranged upon a different plan, making one 
of them comprehend all the regular, and the other the irregular, dicarpellary 
orders ; but the arguments of Mr. Bentham have persuaded me to abandon 
the former in favour of that which is now proposed. 
, Group I. 
Essential Character. — Ovary superior, consisting of several carpels, either combined 
or distinct ; if inferior, then the anthers opening by pores. 
The orders here combined are very much more closely allied to each other 
than to any others in the Monopetalous sub- class. The twining Volvales, 
indeed, seem at first sight to differ materially from the remainder ; but they 
are plainly connected with the first three alliances by means of the shrubby 
species of themselves and of Nolanaceae. Vaccinacese offer an exception to the 
usual character of the group, in consequence of their ovary being inferior ; by 
that circumstance they are verbally referred to Epigynosae ; but all their 
affinities are here, and their anthers opening by pores will shew the student 
how to recognize them. Many Ericaceae approach Rutaceae, and some of 
them Celastraceae. Myrsinaceae are almost brought in contact with Rham- 
