them accord in the im p o rtan t parts o f th e fructification. W ith rega rd to th e individual -which is
the sub je c t o f tlic present description, it is w ith o u t difficulty distinguished from J . pinguis and
J . mnltifida, in having a nerve, which, however obscure in some o f th e old specimens, may in all
be seen by holding th e plant between the eye anil th e lig h t, an d may be tra c ed on the unde r side
o f the p lant by the insertion o f th e roots, since the se are confined to th e nerve itself. In this
respect, indeed, it resembles J . fu r c a ta , J . Blasia, and th e b e au tifu l J . L y e ilii, m s s . Yet i t is
ivith th e la tte r alone th a t it can be confounded, and with i t only in a barren s ta te : b u t th is is a
fa r more delicate p la n t than epiphylla, is furnished with a very d istinc t, th o u g h na rrow, nerve,
and liiis th e margin beset with a few scattered teeth.
In th e situation o f its anthe rs, J . epiphylla differs from every known species; they being
placed singly, and immei-sed in small scattered tubercles upon th e up p e r suiface o f th e nerve, as
has been lo n g known by th e able descriptions anti illustrations, firs t o f Schmidel, and afte rwa rds
o f Hechvig. Tiie la tte r author in p a rticula r has been so fortuna te , as n ot only to have observed in
this species th e explosion o f th e farina from th e anthe r, b u t to have seen th e seeds g e rm in a tin g , and
has thus been able to brin g forward th e strongest a rgum ents in favor o f his own system. Speaking
o f tlie little bodies imbedded in the tube rc le s, “ Antheras hie esse,” he says, “ dubitare nullus
poteram. Quo verb ea ruin confbrmationem et stru c tu ram eo distinctiùs extricarem, auferebam,
consueto m ihi more, particulam sectione perpendiculaii u trin q u e secundum lo ngitudinem per
aliquot horiim p unc tulonim ductâ. Hanc aquæ g u ttu læ in lamellà vitre â im in itto , u t si n o ta ta
dignioi-a aclparevent, delineationi conservarem. Lætus animadverto appa ra tum , tab . x v n r . a.
fìg. 3. expressum cum suis tribus foiliculis, massà levissimfe g ranulosâ onustis. Atque en, slngularis
fortunæ fav o r: in te r delineandum s c a turire de ilio folliculo è, pe r supe rinduc tum superficiei
vesiculosum opus cuticulæ, incipit massa granula ta , eandem in figurara ac ibi delineata habetur.
Persistebat in eà d u o n im c irc itè r m inutorum intervallo: postmodìim verò ante riora versus,
nimii-ùm a. a. ejusdem figuræ inclinare incipiens, brevi distrahebantur particulæ m o tu vivido.
Testimonio adeoque demìlm, co n tra asexualistas, quam evidentissimo, nequidcm his deficere sua
mascula oi-gana."
W ith regard to th e germination o f th e seeds o f J . epiphylla, th e same author remarks,
“ Anno 1780, mense Aprilis, cum Junge rmanniæ seminulis ovatis, viridibus, extremitate a ite rà
angustiore , dilueidiore, sationis feci aliquod periculum, in te s tu là te r r à repie tà adaptatâque huic
experimento: inspergebam superficiel pulvillum capsularum e t felicissimo cum successu. Intu*
mescebant ista seminula post aliquot dies; deinde a dilutiore extremo prodlbat radicula simplex,
nlba, pellucentissima. Reticulata p rim i incrementi fabrica, subinde in perfectas plántulas u ltrb
cxjnindebantur. Sic e t de his c ertiiis co n s ta t; pulve rem capsularum semina esse ve ra , iæ tu râ
a n th e ra rum vivificata,"
RE FERENCE S TO TH E PLATE.
J . epiphylla, with male and young fem a le fructification, natural size.
Female p la n t, with a young calyx, natural size.
Female plants, with a calyx fu l ly formed, natural size.
Female plants, with perfect capsules, natural size.
No. 1. ma g n ified ........................................................................................................................ ^
Portion o f the same, containing the a n th e r s ................................................................... ^
Transverse section o f ihe same ........................................................................................... ^
Anthers .......................................................................................................................................
Portion o f N o. S. magnified ................................................................................................ ®
L ongitudinal section o f the same....................................................... ^
Young calyptra ........................................................................................................................ ®
A bortive p i s t i l l a ........................................................................................................................ ^
Capsule ....................................................................................................................................... ^
Capsule, about to open ......................................................................................................... ®
Capsule, with ihe valves expanded, shewing the insertion o f the spiral filaments 4
Seeds and spiral filaments ..................................................................................................... ^
Portion o f a fr o n d , with a young calyx and p is tilla ...................................................... 4
Portion o f the var. y ............................................................... *