Fecundation in Orchidece and Asclepiadea. 697 



In my mind it arose from contrasting the structure of Cypri- 

 pedium with those genera of New Holland Orchideae — Diuris, 

 Prasophyllum, and others — in which the lateral processes or 

 appendages of the column are so remarkably developed ; and 

 I afterwards, in searching for additional confirmations of the 

 hypothesis, believed I had found such in the more minute late- 

 ral auriculae of the column present in most Ophrydeae. 



These auriculae however, though they might serve to confirm, 

 would hardly have suggested the hypothesis, at the period espe- 

 cially of which I speak. They had indeed until then been 

 altogether overlooked, except by Malpighi*, by Curtis in his 

 Flora Londinensis, perhaps in Walcott's Flora Britannica, and 

 by Mr. Bauer, whom they were not likely to escape. 



In my recent observations on Apostasia, referred to, I 

 noticed a singular monstrosity of Habenaria bifolia, which, if 

 such deviations from ordinary structure are always to be trusted, 

 would throw great doubt on the hypothesis being applicable to 

 these auriculae of Ophrydeae. For in this case, in which three 

 antherae are formed, auriculae not only exist on the middle or 

 ordinary stamen, but one is also found on the upper side of 

 each of the lateral antherae, which are here opposite to two 

 divisions of the outer series of the perianthium. I have lately 

 met with another instance of a similar monstrosity equally 

 unfavourable ; and I may add that this doubt is still further 

 strengthened by my not being able to find vascular cords con- 

 nected with these auriculae in the only plants of Ophrydeae in 

 which I have carefully examined, with this object, the structure 

 of the column, namely, Orchis Morio, mascula, and latifolia. ,, 



I do not indeed regard the absence of vessels as a complete 

 proof of these auriculae not being rudimentary stamina. But I 

 may remark, that in the other tribes of Orchideae, in many of 



* O;;. Ovi. tab. 25. fig. 142. 



4 u 2 whose 



