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 312 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NATURAL FAMILY

I shall conclude this subject, by proposing a few queries respecting the indusium of Brunonia and Goodenovice.

Is this remarkable covering of stigma in these families merely a process of the apex of the style ? or is it a part of distinct origin, though intimately cohering with the pis- tillum ? On the latter supposition, may it not be con- sidered as analogous to the glandular disk surrounding or 135] crowning the ovarium in many other families ? And, in adopting the hypothesis I have formerly advanced 1 res- pecting the nature of this disk in certain families, — namely, that it is composed of a series of modified stamina, — has not the part in question a considerable resemblance in appa- rent origin and division to the stamina of the nearly-related family Stylidece ?

To render this supposition somewhat less paradoxical, let the comparison be made especially between the indusium of Brunonia and the imperfect antherae in the female flowers of Forstera. Lastly, connected with this view, it becomes of importance to ascertain whether the stamina in Stylidece are opposite to the segments of calyx or of corolla. The latter disposition would be in favour of the hypothesis. This, however, is a point which will not be very easily, de- termined, the stamina being lateral. In the mean time, the existence and division of the corona faucis in Btylidium render it not altogether improbable that they are opposite to the segments of the corolla.

��Since the preceding paper was submitted to the Society, M. Cassini has published 2 the substance of a Memoir, which he read to the Academy of Sciences of Paris in August last, on a new family of plants named by him BoopiuEiE, and consisting of Calycera, Boopis, and Aci- carp/ta. I have also, through the liberality of Messrs. de Jussieu, Desfontaines, and Baron Delessert, had the oppor- tunity of examining specimens of Acicarpha tribuloides in

133.1

��1 Liun. !Soc. Transact, x. p. 159. [Ante, p. 8 Bulletin dcs Sciences, 1S1(>, ]>. 160.

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