named Rafflesia. 
19 
Azarina , especially Aristolochia grandijlora,and by the thickening 
or annular projection of the faux in the same plant, as well as in 
a new species of Bragantia discovered in Java by Dr. Ilorsfield. 
It may also be noticed in support of it, that some of the largest 
flowers which were known before the discovery of Rafflesia belong 
to Asarince, as those of Aristolochia grandiflora , and particularly 
Aristolochia cordijlora of Mutis, which, according to M. Bon- 
pland, are sixteen inches in diameter, or nearly half that of our 
plant*. 
The first objection that occurs to this approximation is the ter¬ 
nary division of the perianthium in the regular dowered genera 
of Asarince , opposed to its quinary division in Rafflesia : but in 
Cytinus it is divided into four segments, a number more gene¬ 
rally connected in natural families with five than with three. 
A second objection would exist, if it be considered more pro¬ 
bable that the ovarium of Rafflesia is superior, or free, than in¬ 
ferior, or cohering with the tube of the perianthium. 
There is indeed nothing in the structure of the column itself 
indicating the particular position of the ovarium. But if it be 
admitted, that a base of a form equally calculated for support 
should exist in the female dower, as is found in the male, it might 
perhaps be considered somewhat more probable that such a base 
should be connected with a superior than with an inferior ovarium. 
Even admitting this objection, however, it would be consider¬ 
ably weakened, on the one hand, by allowing that Nepenthes , 
which has a superior ovarium, is related to Asarince, as I am in¬ 
clined to believe ; and on the other, by considering Homalince , 
whose ovarium is inferior, as allied to Passiflorece , the order with 
which I shall now proceed to compare Rafflesia. 
This comparison is suggested by the obvious resemblance be¬ 
tween the perianthium of our genus, and that of certain species 
* Humboldt Bonpl. et Kunth Nov. Geu. ct Sp. ii. p. 113. 
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