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australis and L. convallarioides in its elongated testa and the 
squareness of its cells. The relationship of Listera convallarioides 
and L. australis is altogether too close. Of Léstera australis but 
indifferent specimens were procurable, and the figure may not be 
typical. It is separated from convallarioides by a longer cell and 
less rotund testa, and the seed indicates that it is in closer relation 
with L. cordata than is L. convallarioides. 
It may be worthy of note that the seeds often appeared as in- 
dicative of the character or disposition of the plant. In the case 
of Peramium the seeds of the two species examined did not always 
show constant and pronounced features, and there was an obvious 
tendency to variation, and assumption of characters common to 
both. 
In Pogonia the reverse isto be noted. By reference to the figures 
it will be seen how strongly the individual features of each species 
are manifested. These pronounced characters indicate a decided 
bent in the plant life that has made a sharp demarkation of species. 
And we would expect to find the species widely separated and 
rigidly fixed, as is the fact. In the case of Pogonia affinis and 
Pogonia verticillata no noteworthy difference exists. The form of 
seed, character of cell, wall and nucellus are identical. It is to be 
seriously doubted if any tangible distinction can be maintained be- 
tween these two species. Furthermore such is the disposition of 
the genus that we would expect pronounced features to character- 
ize the species. It should be said that but one specimen, and that 
an excellent one, was examined. I would consider it a favor to 
receive mature fruit of this plant. 
In examining these seeds one fact came out very clearly, i. e. 
the importance of the fruit as one of the prime factors of classifica- 
tion. This would naturally be the case, for the fruit is the con- 
summation of the plant life. Inthe nucellus rests the occult power 
to produce its kind; here also is lodged the impetus to change 
and variation. Cliniate and soil and cultivation may assist the 
plant in its departure from the parent type, but that restlessness 
which renders the classification of some genera so difficult, is due 
more to the hidden force lodged by the plant in the nucellus than 
all other combined influences. It seems reasonable, therefore, 
that something of this inherent disposition of the plant that is to 
