26 Mr. Brown’s Account of a new Genus,of Plants, 
to be parasitic on roots; in those especially, which in several 
other respects resemble Rajflesia, as Cytinus , Aphyteia, Cynomo- 
rium , and Balanophora. On this subject I cannot find that a 
single observation has hitherto been made, at least with respect 
to the genera now mentioned. Sufficient materials, indeed, for 
such an investigation are hardly to be expected in collections, 
in which the parasite is most frequently separated from the 
root; and even when found in connection with it, is generally 
in a state too far advanced to afford the desired information. I 
consider myself fortunate, therefore, in having obtained speci¬ 
mens of several species where the union is preserved; and the 
result of the examination of these, though not completely satis¬ 
factory, has been to lead me back to my first opinion, namely, 
that the Great Flower is really a parasite, and that the root on 
which it is found probably belongs to a species of Vitis. 
An account of some of the more remarkable of this class of 
parasitic plants, to which a few years ago I had paid particular 
attention, may hereafter form the subject of a separate communi¬ 
cation. At present I shall confine myself to such general observa¬ 
tions on the class as relate to the question respecting llafflesia. 
In the first place, plants parasitic on roots are chiefly distin¬ 
guishable by the imperfect development of their leaves, and the 
entire absence of green colour; an observation which, as applying 
to the whole tribe, was I believe originally made by Linnaeus*. 
In both these points they agree with Rafflesia. 
A second observation which may be made respecting them is, 
that their seeds are small, and their Embryo not only minute, but 
apparently imperfectly developed; in some cases being absolutely 
undivided, and probably acotjdedonous, even in plants which, 
from their other characters, are referable to dicotyledonous, or 
at least to monocotjdedonous families. 
I 
* Fungus Melitensis, p. 3. Arnam. Acad. iv. p. 353. 
In 
