158 Mr. D. Don on the Ligulate Rays in Zinnia, 8fC. 



with 4 or 5 stigmata, the number was two or three ; with 6, three ; 

 with 8, four ; and with 10, five ; but when they exceeded two, 

 they were found generally to be imperfectly formed and united 

 together, having but seldom more than one cotyledon ; and 

 where no increase takes place, as very often happens, the em- 

 bryo is always found to be distorted, and the cotyledons un- 

 equal. It is not unusual to find, even in a floret of the ordinary 

 structure, but with an increased number of stigmata, a mon- 

 strous embryo having several unilateral, dolabriform cotyledons, 

 and a long, filiform radicle. In the perfect embryo of Zinnia the 

 cotyledons are linear- oblong, obtuse, with a straight, subulate 

 radicle scarcely half their length. 



In conclusion it may be observed, that deviations from the 

 typical form are of rare occurrence in the flowers of Zinnia ele- 

 gans, as in all the capitula of that species, which were examined 

 by me, I did not meet with a solitary instance. The species in 

 which t have found them most frequently to occur is Zinnia ver- 

 ticillata; for almost every capitulum of this species will be found 

 to furnish many examples : and the circumstance of the leaves 

 being frequently verticillate in this species would appear to 

 exert an influence over the parts of fructification, affording a 

 striking proof, as it appears to me, of the correctness of the 

 theory advanced by Mr. Brown respecting the origin of those 

 parts, and also of his hypothesis regarding the plan on which 

 the female organ in phaenogamous plants* is formed. In Zinnia 

 verticillata I have occasionally met with hermaphrodite florets, 

 having 5 stamina and 5 perfect stigmata. 



* hinn. Trans, loc. cit. 



XV. Some 



