321 
drosae ; by this means opening the circle on one side, and following the course 
till it brought me back to the point whence I started. But I find that there 
are practical inconveniences in the way of this arrangement, and as it is after 
all a matter of no great importance, I have thought it better in the present 
work to revert to the order proposed in my Ntjnis, p. 21 . The sequence of the 
groups will, therefore, be as under : — 
1. <E^piBHno0ae* 
2. ®gnantiro0ae» 
3. l^ppocgno0ae* 
4. Eeto0ae» 
5. <g)paTiico0ae* 
6. <SIumo0aef 
Anthers distinct. Flowers complete, formed upon a ter- 
nary plan. Ovary inferior ; or if superior, then the leaves 
either scurfy or equitant. 
Stamens and style consolidated into a central column. 
Flowers complete, formed upon a ternary plan. Ovary 
inferior, usually one- celled with scobiform seeds. 
Flowers coloured, formed upon a ternary plan. Ovary su- 
perior. 
Leaves either with many ribs, the intervals between which 
are irregularly netted, or with a midrib and netted sides ; 
foot- stalk taper, articulated with the stem. Embryo 
without a lateral slit. Flowers never arranged in a 
spadix. Floral envelopes complete. 
Flowers herbaceous or imperfect ; the perianth sometimes 
absent. Embryo with a lateral slit for the emission of 
the plumule. 
Bracts scale-like, glumaceous, imbricated, in the room of 
calyx. 
Group I. 
Essential Character. — Anthers distinct. Flowers complete, divided upon a ternary 
plan. Ovary inferior ; or if superior, then the leaves either scurfy or equitant. 
In most of the orders this character is so perfectly preserved that no mis- 
take is likely to be made about it, unless in regard to the Retose group, but that 
is known by its totally difierent leaves. In Heemodoracese and Bromeliacese, 
indeed, genera are not unfrequent in which the ovary is really superior ; and 
which would consequently be referred to Hypogynosse. I believe, however, 
that this deviation from the usual character of Epigynosse only occurs in plants 
whose leaves are either equitant or scurfy, and as I am not aware that such 
peculiarities ever exist in the vegetation of Hypogynosse, the exceptions will 
be readily recognised. The Gynandrous group is sufficiently defined by the 
combination of the styles and stamens into a homogeneous central co- 
lumn. The Haemodoraceous and Bromeliaceous genera already alluded to, with 
a superior ovary, form a transition from this group to Hypogynosse : it is con- 
nected with Gynandrosse by Iridaceae on the one hand and Apostasiaceae on the 
other. 
Y 
