genera allied to Polygaîeoe; but he observes that it recedes from them “ in the number and structure of
the parts of tiie flower, and in the absence of a perisperm.” Mr. Brown, too, as alsj St. Hilaire, refers it
to Polygaîeoe. The flowers present peculiarities in their structure very unlike any thing we have seen
in other plants. There are three bracteas, one on the stem at the insertion of the pedicel, the other two
opposite, on the pedicel itself, and decussating with the lower bractea. The sepals are in a triple scries ; the
lower, or that which is in the same line with the lower bractea, together with a similar superior one, are larger
than the others, and exterior; the two intermediate ones are rather smaller and alternate with the exterior
pair ; the interior is still smaller, and is situated between the upper exterior and one of the intermediate
ones, usually that on the right, but, in some blossoms, that on the left, as seems to be represented and
described by St. Hilaire, under R . grandiflora. Petals 5 ; 3 similar in shape to each other, of which the
lateral ones are opposite to the upper exterior and to the interior small sepal, while the central one is intermediate
between these; 2 fleshy petals are placed opposite the two intermediate sepals. Stamens 4 and
declínate, of ivhich the two lower arc longer aud more bent, and alternate with the upper petals, and with
these and the cai-nose ones. The ovarium has the placenta on the side next the central upper petal ; and tlie
style, bending fii'st downwards towards the lovver exterior sepal, afterwards rises towai'ds the central petal.
Such is the structure that presents itself to us in this species, the only one we have had a sufficient opportunity
of examining. It must be remai-ked, however, that this view of its structure is completely at variance
with the analysis of K . grandiflora, given by St. Hilaire, (Mémoires du Mus. v. 17. t. 31, aud Fl. Brasil.
Merid. V. 2. p. 73,) for, by that able author, the iuscrtion of the ovules or the line of the placenta is “ a petalis
inferioribus aversumf while he declares the lower petals to be the three uniform ones. If, then, St. Hilaire
were correct, there could be little doubt of the genus Krameria belonging to Polygaîeoe, each anther aud
stamen with a double cell and double terminal pore being viewed as composed of two stamens, and two
anthers, each w ith a single cell and pore, or tending to show that in Polygaîeoe each pair of stamens forms
but one; but our species presents the very different ai-rangement we have.described, and from jt we may
state that, whether we take as our guide the subtending bractea, or the ascending style, which Brown finds
to be anterior in every plant, or tbe placenta situated on tbe upper interior side of the ovarium, ive consider
the three similar petals to be superior, and, consequently, that an inversion of the common arrangement in
plants, and in the Polygaîeoe, takes place here. The relative position of the sepals and petals to the axis of
the spike or bractea, is thus scarcely different from what exists in the Leguminosoe, where Sir J. E. Smith
seems disposed to fix this genus. But neither is it altogether the same as in that order, for, looking at the
sepals by themselves, the odd one, or that whicli has least relation to the others, is undoubtedly tbe small
interior one : but with regard to the bractea, and a symmetrical disposition of the petals, stamina, and style,
the inferior must be termed tbe odd one, the two intermediate ones forming one opposite pair, while the
upper exterior, aud the small interior, although placed in a very different series, must thus constitute the
next pair. Vieu'iiig the analysis in what way we will, we are beset with difficulties, which are increased
by observing that the two fleshy petals do not alternate with any of the sepals, but are opposite to the two
that are intermediate, Avhich would almost incline us to believe, with Kunth, that these are abortive stamina,
and not petals. If Krameria belong to Polygaîeoe, the arrangement and nature of the organs in that order
are still involved in doubt; and if it be one of tbe Leguminosoe, its nearest affinity is with the genus Cassia,
from which, however, it differs in very many important points. Perhaps some allied genus may yet be discovered,
and a new groupe formed, exhibiting an additional intennediate link between these orders. We
have not seen the ripe fruit, but St. Hilaire describes tbe cotyledons as auriclcd at the base, the auricles '
surrounding the radicle, which perhaps led De Candolle and others to believe in the presence of a fleshy
albumen : that, however, is no objection to its forming part of Polygaîeoe ; for in some genera truly belonging
to this order, as Monnhm and Securidaca, the albumen has a tendency also to disappear. We may add, that
in our idea of the position of the parts of the flower, we are borne out by Ruiz and Pavon, Jussieu aud
Kuntb. The ivbole arrangement will be best understood by tbe following reference to the figures in
tbe plate.
T ab. V. Krameria cistoidea. Fig. I, Section of a flower-bud; a. a. a. a. a. Sepals of the calyx; b. d>.
The two inferior petals of the corolla; c .c .c . The three superior petals; d. d. The two lateral and