named Rafflesia. 
17 
mina of certain Aroidea , in which it has been observed that a con¬ 
tinued secretion and discharge of pollen takes place from the same 
cell; the whole quantity produced greatly exceeding the size of 
the secreting organ. 
The passage of the pollen to the bottom of the dower, where it 
is more easily accessible to insects, seems likewise to be pro¬ 
vided for, not only by the direction of the antherae, but also by 
the form of the corresponding cavities in the neck of the column, 
in the upper part of which they are immersed. 
That insects are really necessary to the impregnation of Ruf- 
flesia, is confirmed by Dr. Arnold’s statement respecting the odour 
of the plant, by which they may be supposed to be attracted, and 
also by the fact of the swarms actually seen hovering about and 
settling in the expanded flower. 
The structure of Rafflesia is at present too imperfectly known 
to enable us to determine its place in the natural system. I shall, 
however, offer some observations on this question, which can 
hardly be dismissed without examination. 
As to which of the two primary divisions of phamogamous 
plants the genus belongs, it may, I think, without hesitation 
be referred to Dicotyledones ; j^et if the plant is parasitic, and 
consequently no argument on this subject to be derived from the 
structure of the root, which is exactly that of the Vine*, its 
exclusion from Monocotyledones would rest on no other grounds, 
that I am able to state, than the quinary division of the perian- 
thium, which in other respects also bears a considerable resem¬ 
blance to that of certain dicotyledonous orders; the number of 
stamina, and the ramification of vessels in the bracteae. 
Assuming, however, that Rafflesia belongs to Dicotyledones , 
* Compare the magnified section of the Root, tab. 22. f. 8. with that of the Vine 
in Grew’s Anat. tab. 17- 
D 
and 
