The genus Calathea was founded by Dr. Meyer in his 
Primitie Flore Essequeboensis, upon the Maranta Cassupo 
of Jacquin. It was probably described after an examina- 
tion of dried specimens, which may account for the charac- 
ter given by the founder of it not being so complete as 
could have been desired. The original species has not 
fallen under our observation, but’ we presume that the 
genus was designed to comprehend all the plants previously 
referred to Maranta, which have not a circinate style and 
naked flowers. We have, therefore, reformed the generic 
character, from an attentive examination of the plant now 
before the reader, M. Zebrina of the Gardens, and a new 
species from Brazil, which we propose soon to publish in 
this work under the name of Calathea violacea. Sprengel 
refers Maranta Cachibou of Jacq., and MW. juncea of Lamarck, 
neither of which we have seen, to the genus; but he retains 
in Maranta the Adlouya of Jacquin, which surely is, as far 
as can be judged from Jacquin’s figure and description, a 
genuine species of Calathea. 
Cannee have been separated by Mr. Brown, as a dis- 
tinct order from Scitaminee, on account of the single cell 
of their anthers, and the absence of vitellus from their 
seeds; and the separation is confirmed by nature, who has 
given to Cannez none of the aromatic properties, so charac- 
teristic of true Scitaminee. But there is another point of 
difference between these two orders, to which we believe 
that no allusion has hitherto been made, and which appears 
to us to be of at least as great importance as those by 
which this division has been already effected; inasmuch 
as it consists in a diversity of structure upon which the 
respective affinities of the two orders with Orchidew 
will be found to depend. In true Scitaminez, as has 
been observed by Mr. Brown, the stamen is always 
placed. opposite to the labellum, or anterior division 
of the inner series of the perianthium, and proceeds 
from the base of the posterior outer division of the peri- 
anthium; while the sterile stamens, when they exist, 
are stationed right and left of the labellum. But what 
we find remarkable in Cannez is, that the place of one 
of the sterile stamens of Scitaminee is taken by their 
fertile stamen, which is therefore no longer opposite the 
labellum, but stands on one side of it. This peculiarity of 
