and Carallia, all of which are found in the equinoctial part of New Holland, form a distinct natural order which may be called Rhizophoreæ. This order agrees with Cunoniaceæ in its opposite leaves and intermediate stipulæ, and with great part of them in the æstivation of its calyx, and in the structure and cohesion of the ovarium. From these it differs chiefly in the want of albumen and greater evolution of its embryo. Jussieu[1] has combined Rhizophora and Bruguiera with Loranthus and Viscum, neglecting some very obvious, and, as they appear to me, important differences in the flower, and probably never having had an opportunity of comparing the very distinct structures of their ovaria; the affinity too of Rhizophoreæ to Cunoniaceæ is unquestionable, and it will hardly be proposed to unite both these tribes with Loranthus, which I consider as even more nearly related to Proteaceæ.
HALORAGEÆ. The greater part of the genera of which this order is composed, have been referred to Onagrariæ, to certain parts of which they no doubt very nearly approach; but it must appear rather paradoxical to unite Fuchsia in the same family with Myriophyllum and even Hippuris, and it would be in vain to attempt a definition [550 of an order composed of such heterogenous materials. By the separation of the order here proposed it becomes at least practicable to define Onagrariæ. It is still, however, difficult to characterise Halorageæ, which will probably be best understood by considering as the type of the order the genus Haloragis, froan which all the others differ by the suppression of parts or separation of sexes. Thus Meionectes, an unpublished genus of New Holland, is reduced to half the number of parts both of flower and fruit. Proserpinaca is deprived of petals and of one fourth of all the other parts. Myriophyllum, which is monœcious, has the complete number of parts in the male flower, but in the female wants both calyx and corolla; what several authors have described as petals being certainly bracteæ.
- ↑ Annales du mus. 12, p. 288.
