Fecundation in Orchidee and Asclepiadea. 695 
villie, after impregnation, as he believes, according to my view 
of the subject would rather prove that it was in a state capable 
of acting upon, but had not yet received the fecundating matter 
from, the anthera. 
In thus venturing to differ from so accurate and experienced 
an observer as Mr. Bauer on a subject which he has for many 
years minutely studied and so beautifully illustrated, I am well 
aware how great a risk I incur of being myself found in error. 
l am very desirous, however, that the perusal of this sketch 
of the various statements that have appeared on the question of 
impregnation, with the greater part of which he is at present 
probably unacquainted, should induce him to reexamine the 
facts and arguments by which his own opinion on this subject 
is supported. He will thus either succeed in establishing his 
theory on more satisfactory grounds, or, if the examination 
should prove unfavourable, he will, I am persuaded, from his 
well known candour, as readily abandon it. 
The notice here given of the opinions of botanists on impreg- 
nation in Orchidez brings the subject down to the spring of the 
present year, when from circumstances, which I may hereafter 
have occasion to advert to, my attention was directed to this 
family of plants, the particular study of which I had for a long 
time discontinued. 
In reviewing notes respecting them, made many years ago, 
I found some points merely hinted at, or imperfectly made out, 
which seemed deserving of further examination; and in the 
course of these inquiries, other observations of at least equal 
importance suggested themselves. | 
I now proceed to state, in some cases briefly, in others at 
greater length, the results of this investigation. 
The first question that occupied me was, the relation which 
VOL. XVI. 4 U the 
