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W e are n o t aware that there have any where been published figures o f th e fructification o f the
genus M a rsile a which can give any idea o f th e curious structure o f the involucrum and its contents.
In this respect we trust that our representation will he found u se fu l; th ou gh , even here, wc must
observe that from the small number o f r ipe fruits we had to examine, and the great difficulty o f
d istinguishing th e situation o f th e parts after they had been dried, wc do n o t p ledge ourselves that
the insertion o f th e supposed anthers and capsules is here represented with all the accuracy that
could be wished. W e would rather rely upon the figure o f the n e x t species, M . p o ly c a ip a . The
immediate insertion o f the fructifications within th e involucre is unquestionably upon bundles o f
t’e sscls, o f which the principal one rims vertically along the centre o f the h ack o f the involucre,
and from each side there branch o ff several parallel forked bundles, to which th e capsules and
anthers arc attached, and \i hich correspond in number to the cells o f the involucre. T h e se bundles
o f vessels we have been able to remove entire from within th e involucre, as shown at fig. 7- The
genus P ilu la r ia will probably be found to exhibit a somewhat similar structure, when its fructifications
shall he examined with the necessary miuutcficss.