branches, then the first whorl in which the developement 

 takes place will settle the origin of all that succeed it. For 

 example, if in one whorl of six leaves the first, third, and 

 fifth leaves produce axillary buds, then in the whorl next 

 above it, the second, fourth, and sixth leaves will probably 

 be gemmiferous, according to the ordinary laws of decussa- 

 tion. It is plainly impossible to say that what seem to be 

 leaves are in reality stipules, because they have no axillary 

 buds; for if that opinion were maintained, it would be 

 necessary to assign the quality of stipules to a certain por- 

 tion of the leaves of such ver^icillate plants as Dysophylla 

 stellata, in which only a part of the whorls ever produces 

 branches. 



2. If it is true that in Asperula two opposite leaves are 

 trequently longer than the others, that circumstance may be 

 reasonably ascribed to the greater developement consequent 

 upon their higher functions, and to their peculiar position on 

 the stem; and it is equally true that in the greater part of 

 Jjahaceae no trace whatever of any kind of difference between 

 the leaves can be detected, as is most remarkably the case in 

 those surrounding the flowers of Crucianella maritima. 



f 1' V^^ argument derived from the occasional connection 

 ' t T'^^ .^^ ^ membrane can hardly be allowed much 



ght when it is remembered that in such 



the 



mediate leaves are less like stipules than in those cases where 



!L^,.'?.!°'_^/?;:^" ^.f''' ' compare Asperula cynanchica, or lit- 



longiflora, with such genuine Crucianellas as C. 



maritima 



r 



and'l' J^. ''"'7^„"'»" of *e supposed stipules of Galiaceffi 

 formiiJ! , "m SP^™««?«T i« inadmissible, because the 

 Aev mav 1-f r""' "",§!« ^^P'e organs, be they what 

 tKlSi no. ? ?' ''"^ *? SpermacoceaT are the result of 

 tni r!'°!: u.V.''° P""* lel.-veined stipules, and therefore 



lily be uncertain in number 



tne '^^^wiT'^T^, ''"r""' H"'"'''^' V «°y m^'ans exhaust 



ionaTrel A. ^"'^°'' ^ proceed to iake a few addi- 



tional remarks upon a point not vet adverted t^. Tt is in 



the 



Aa„„_„i_ „ .f . r— — ""I. jci auvertea to. it is 



VXrhrV"" '," ""y o"'^' g^""' of 'he order, that .» 



to be found evidence favourable to the supposition of M. De 



