which appear to be dioecious, 601 



constituting, in fact, a species of monoecious inflorescence ; and 

 as it requires some external aid for its completion, /onus a trans- 

 ition to the decided separation of the sexes in distinct florets, 



which are further removed into distinct capilula in the monoe- 

 cious genera XantJtium and Ambrosia, and still further in the 

 dioecious plants. 



This process is analogous to that which takes place in a fell 

 instances in the animal kingdom, in what are on this account 

 termed androgynous animals, of which the Helu hortenm is a 

 well known example. Jn the androgynous animal, although if 

 has both the male and female organs complete, the one cannot 

 be impregnated by the other on account of their relati\e posi- 

 tion : in the androgynous flower, impregnation is prevented h\ 

 the organs of the two sexes not being developed at the same 

 time. 



I am not aware that any particular term has been adopted to 

 designate flowers of this kind ; but as they are not confined to tin 

 family of the Composite, it might be useful to point them out by 

 an appropriate name, and androgynous seems strictly applica- 

 ble. Linnams has indeed used the term Flos audrogynus, but 

 it is not, I believe, known what precise meaning he intended to 

 convey by it ; from which cause it has fallen into disuse. 



It being a matter of some interest to ascertain what proportion 

 of the species of the genera I have mentioned, or of those allied 

 to them, have the male and female flowers on different plants ; 

 and as this can only be effected by examining numerous speci- 

 mens in their wild state, it may be useful to point out some of the 

 most obvious and striking distinctions between the female and 

 antheriferous capitula, and which are such as may be readily 

 observed in a cursory survey of the plants : to determine whether 

 the flowers are male or hermaphrodite, recourse must be had tu 



the seeds. 



The 



