are readily distinguishable from the whole order by their fructus superus, and they may possibly differ also in the internal structure of their ovarium, which has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained.
The genus Exocarpus is most abundant in the principal parallel and southern parts of Terra Australis, but it is not unfrequent even within the tropic. Exocarpus cupressiformis is not only the most common species of the genus, but the most general tree in Terra Australis, being found in nearly the whole of the principal parallel, in every part of Van Diemen's Island that has been visited, and even within the tropic. I am acquainted with only three plants that have in that country an equally extensive range. These are Anthistiria australis, the most valuable grass as well as the most general plant in Terra Australis; Arundo Phragmites, less frequent than the former, but which extends from the southern extremity of Van Diemen's Island to the north coast of New Holland; and Mesembryanthemum æquilaterale, which occurs on almost every part of the sandy sea shores of both these islands.
Exocarpus is not absolutely confined to Terra Australis, for M. Bauer has discovered a very remarkable species bearing its flowers on the margins of dilated foliaceous branches, analogous to those of Xylophylla; and Xylophalla longifolia, which was taken up by Linnaeus from Rumphius,[1] [570 appears more probably, both from the description and figure of that author, to be also a species of Exocarpus.
There is so great a resemblance between the enlarged fleshy receptacle of Exocarpus and the berry of Taxus, that some botanists have been led to compare these plants together in other respects. A complete coincidence in this part of their structure would not indeed prove the affinity of these two genera, any more than it does that of Exocarpus to Anacardium or Semecarpus, with which also it has been compared; and to determine their agreement even in this respect it is necessary to understand the origin of the berry of Taxus, of which very different accounts
- ↑ Xylophyllos ceramica, Herb. amb. 7, p. 19, t. 12.
