PEOFESSOE HENFEET ON THE ANATOMY OF VICTOEIA EEGIA. 
489 
ment of the centre of the receptacle into the columella, they become horizontal, and the 
horizontal stigmatic lines must be regarded as the ventral sutures of the carpels. The 
upper portion of the carpels, adherent to the annularly raised part of the receptacle, is 
developed in a remarkable manner. The central columella is originally conical, but it 
soon exhibits a constricted base, tapering downward in a reversed conical form. The 
inner surface of the ring, as it were, moulds itself in this, and sends in a ridge-like pro- 
cess, which fits into the hollow at the constricted base of the columella. Afterwards, as 
the receptacle expands, this ridge, pointing downwards, is drawn away from its original 
position, but still continues to grow ; the stigmatic lines are seen first running horizon- 
tally out over the cells of the ovary, next turning inwards, then curving round the ridge 
upwards, until ultimately they are lost at the base of the circle of ‘ horns’ bordering the 
annularly raised receptacle. 
From the foregoing account it is evident that the inferior position of the ovary of 
Victoria is only apparent, and that the structure consists of a circle of numerous distinct 
carpels collaterally united and imbedded in an enlarged receptacle which runs up in a 
circle around them, carrying up the stamens and fioral envelopes, and likewise rising 
into a columella in the centre, where its expansion carries up to some extent the bases 
of the carpels and brings them into an oblique and almost horizontal position. This 
removes any difficulty which might arise in considering the relation of this genus with 
others where the ovary is distinctly superior. 
Many other particulars of less consequence were observed, which for the most part 
have been con-ectly explained by preceding observers; such are the structure of the 
orifices found in the leaves, called by Plaxchon ‘ stomatodes,’ the form of the pollen, &c. 
For an account of these we refer to M. Teecul’s memoir*. 
In conclusion, I must briefly allude to the bearing of the facts contained in the present 
paper upon the systematic position of the Nymphseaceae. Notwithstanding that the 
anatomical character of the roots adds one more Dicotyledonous feature to the character 
of these plants, I am more inclined than ever to regard the structure of the rhizome as 
conforming to the general type of the stem of Monocotyledons rather than to that of 
Dicotyledons, among which I have found nothing at all like it. But I do not consider 
that this character alone can decide the position of the Order, the majority of whose 
characters are, on the contrary, clearly Dicotyledonous; it merely brings it into the 
position of a link between the two classes, which are by no means so markedly separated 
from each other as is often supposed from the mode of their arrangement in Systematic 
works. A further attempt at the settlement of the true alfinities of this Order does not 
come within the scope of the present paper. 
January 1859. 
* Anu. des Sc. Nat. ser. 3. Botanique, vol. i. p. 145. 
