128 



To sum up what we have so far discussed, ENGLER'S principles are those 

 of the present static system, but the facts so far he has given them plainly 

 show that the latter system is not qualified to express all the natural relations 

 and that it should be a dynamic system that we ought to contemplate. 



b. ENGLER'S EXPLANATION OF THE SYNOPSIS OF THE 



EMBRYOrHYTA SIPHONOGAM A 1 ' . 



Here let us consider at some length what we have discussed in the foregoing 

 pages. ENGLER refers in p. 359 in his work to the calazogamy and states that 

 it has no great systematic value, the only reason for tliis being that it does 

 not corne in con-elation with other characters. In my judgement, however, 

 various behaviors of pjllen-tubes in different plants show some relations in 

 that respect; this ought to be taken into the consideration in classification. 

 It may prove to be inconvenient in the static system, but it does no harm 

 in making a dynamic system. Then, he refers to VAN TIEGHEM'S system 25 , 

 and puts no great importance on it. But I think that VAN TIEGHEM'S system 

 is right in that respect, although in that respect only. In a dynamic system 

 it would be regarded as an important phase. 



As to the Monocotyledons^, he makes the following statement 45 : 



ich habe gezeigt, dass unter den Monokotyledoneen zuniichst Keihen existieren, 

 bei denen in der Zalil der Bliitenteile Unbestandigkeit herrscht, wiiLrend andere voll- 

 stitndige oder reducierte pentaeyklische Bliiten besitzen. Anf der ersten Stiife stehen 

 diejenigen Reihen, bei welchen noch vollkorumen acbJamydeische Bliiten vorkommen. 

 Es sind dies die Pandaimles, Helobiaj und Glumiflwa;. 



Thus, he divides the Monocotyledons into two, according as whether the 

 number of the floral elements is definite or indefinite. This is indeed one way 

 of dividing, yet there are many others. Their natural relations will not be 

 understood, till we divide and group them in several different ways. To learn 



1) ENGLEK, A. Erlautentngen zu der Ubersicht iiber die Embryophyta siphonogama, in 

 der Natiirl. Pfl.-fam. Nacht. I. pp. 358-380, (1897). 



2) BENDLE, A. B. The Classification of Flowering Plants, I. p. 25, (1904). 



3) Here I must call readers' attention to the fact that there are some indications of a 

 second cotyledon in certain of the grasses, such as Zizanln, Avena., etc. JEFFREY, E. C. The 

 Anatomy of Woody Plants (Chicago, 1917) p. 377. 



4) ENGLKB, A. Erlaxiterungen, 1. c. p. 360. 



