Page:Miscellaneousbot02brow.djvu/675

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PLANTS JAVANIC^E RARIORES. 659

size, I was able to observe only one ovulum, suspended from a funiculus which was continued on one side into a raphe ending at the lower and wider extremity of the ovulum. These appearances leave the question of the ori- ginal position of micropyle undetermined.

Dr. Blume considers the capitate body as the true stigma, and I have some reason to believe that this is also the opinion of an excellent and more recent observer. I have little doubt, however, that the emarginate or biden- tate branch is the organ performing the function. In con- nection with and in support of this opinion, I regard the ovarium or pericarpium of Cardiopteris as composed of two carpella, the line of junction being in the axis of the samara. This I infer from the relative position of the supposed per- fect and imperfect stigmata, the former presenting its papillose surface to the latter, and both being in the plane of the wings of the samara ; and these wings, as well as I can judge, being anterior and posterior with relation to the axis of the unilateral spike.

With respect to the affinities of Car diopter is, Dr. Wallich, with whom the genus originated, and who first hazarded a conjecture on the subject, was disposed to refer it to Sapindacece ; Hasskarl (1. supra cit.) has placed it among Fup/wrbiace<% ; and Blume, who considers it as forming a separate family ( Car diop tenders), has placed this family in proximity with Verbenacece and Boraginece. None of these approximations appear to me satisfactory, and although 1 am aware of several important objections to the view, I am inclined to consider Cardiopteris as an isolated genus or family to be placed at no great distance from Bhytocrenece, chiefly through lodes, under which genus I have given some account of that family.

Tab. XLIX. Fig. 1. A branch of Cardiopteris lobata, \\\ flower and fruit, natural size. Fig. 2. An expanded flower, slightly magnified, which shows the relative pro- portion of calyx, corolla, and stamina, and the external appearance of pistillum, of which the capitate stigma has nearly attained its full size, while the true stigma is as yet

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