XXI.â��Note on the relationship of CannabinaceÃ¦

Dr. B. Seemann on the Relationship of Cannabinacese. 199 XXI. — Note on the Relationship of Cannabinaccse. By Berthold Seemann, Ph.D., F.L.S. It appears to be a growing conviction that the apetalous Exogens arc not so intimately connected with each other as was formerly thought, but merely held together by the artificial character of not possessing perfect flowers, and that their relationship is to be sought rather amongst plants possessing both calyx and co-rolla than amongst those forms with which they have hitherto been associated. The number of apetalous orders kept systema-tically apart from petalous ones is constantly diminishing as the links connecting them with more highly developed types are disco-vered ; nevertheless a good many still remain to be disposed of, and amongst them are the Cannabiuaceae, an order composed of threespecies, viz. Cannabis sativa,lj'mn., Humulus Lvpuliis, Linn., and H. japonicus, Sieb. et Zucc. Whilst fully admitting their intimate connexion with the More?©, Artocarpese, and Urticese proper, they seem to present a number of characters proving them close allies of the Acerinese and Malpighiacese. They agree with both in having opposite leaves, an imbricated calyx, suspended ovules, indehiscent fruit, exalbuminous seed, and convolute embryo. They share with Acerinese the palmati-ncrved leaves and bifid stigma, with Malpighiacese the occa-sional climbing habit, hair affixed in the middle, stipules, pani-culate flowers, solitary ovule, and superior radicle, showing the balance to be in favour of Malpighiacere. Without overrating habit, it is entitled to some weight. Whilst there is not a single winding Urticea, Artocarpea, or Morea, there are two winding Cannabinacese and a number of winding Malpighiacca). Hair affixed in the middle, so frequent amongst ]\Ialpighiacea3, occurs in Humulus japonicus, but not in any other Urticaceous or other order of Dicotyledons, except Papilionacea? {Tndigofera). The presence of stipules and paniculate flowers is also important, whilst the solitary ovules and superior radicle are still more im-portant considerations. The strong diclinous tendency and solitary carpels of Cannabinacese will probably be raised as objections to the view here ventilated, as being against the alliance with Endlicher^s Acera and Lindley's Sapindales. It must, however, be remembered that polygamous flowers are common both in Acerinese and Malpighiacese, whilst hermaphro-dite ones are by no means rare in Humulus as well as in Cannabis, (Conf. Masters in ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' and Regers 'Partheno-genesis.') Nor do the solitary carpels present any difficulty. Petiveriacese, which do possess such solitary carpels, have already been ranged by Lindley between Sapindacese and Acerinese. In fact, Lindley's diagnosis of Sapindales — " Hypogynous Exogens,

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XXI.—Note on the relationship of Cannabinaceæ

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