118 



der Entwicklung ein tlurch gewisse Eigenscliaf ten oder Dominanten 

 charakterisierter Typus gelangen kann, d. h. welcher Progressionen 

 er fahig ist. 



From tliis we see that liis affinity - group is one that is determined only in so 

 far as it accords with one view of " certain characters." But, we shall see 

 quite different affinity - groups established, as I have before stated, when viewed 

 from different standpoints. Then he remarks : 



"VVir erkennen hierbei, dafi vielfacli parallele Entwicklungsreihen auftre- 

 ten und dag man sicli hiiten muB, die Parallclercheinungen mit den eine Sippe charak- 

 terisierenden Erscheintmgen auf gleiclie Stufe zu setzen. 



In the above quotation, he states that characters of plants observed in the 

 present vegetable world are referable to two different categories, namely : 1, 

 those denoting parallel advancement in different series or classes ; 2, those 

 denoting to what series they belong . In my estimation, it is impossible to 

 regard different characters as necessarily and decidedly denoting such different 

 meanings. In my opinion, there can be no such absolute difference between 

 the characters. ENGLER'S statement is only for convenience. Even if -we 

 admit the two kinds of characters for convenience' sake, they are not peculiar 

 (proper) to themselves but are interchangeable. If characters, regarded by 

 ENGLER as representing those of the first category, are taken by another 

 author as those of the second, the other characters regarded by ENGLER as 

 those of the second should, in their turn, be taken by the other author as 

 those of the first category. In fine, to ascribe different chararters to the two 

 different categories is a mere expedient to furnish arguments for a system 

 established on the assumption of phylogeny. Now, let us consider the matter 

 by examples. According to ENGLEK'S system, such characters of the Urn- 

 belliflorse, as valvate aestivation, a reduced calyx, andrceceum consisting of one 

 whorl of five stamens, two-celled ovary with a few ovules, are all regarded 

 as belonging to the first category, since the same characters are found in the 

 liubiales ; while such a character of the Umbelliflorse as that represented by 

 polypetalous flowers is regarded as of the second category, as a character of 

 the Rubiales represented by gamopetalous flowers is likewise treated. In other 



1) Characters of this second category show the blood connection within a group, but not 

 between groups. 



