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XX. Contributions to Vegetable Embryology, from Observations on the Origin 

 and Development of the Embryo in Tropseolum majus. By Herbert 

 GiRAUD, M.D., F.B.S.E., S^c. Communicated by the Secretary. 



Read February 1st, 1842. 



IN a paper published in the 'Annals of Natural History' (June 1840), I 

 pointed out the state of the inquiry regarding the origin and development of 

 the Vegetable Embryo, by presenting a view of the late researches which have 

 been conducted on the Continent witli reference to this subject ; and I there 

 showed that, from the conflicting nature of the results obtained by the obser- 

 vations of Schleiden* and Wydlerf, and of Mirbel and Spach:{:, taken in con- 

 junction with certain morphological considerations, our opinions regarding 

 the origin of the Embryo were still indeterminate ; and that it yet remained 

 for further observations and inquiries to establish a true theory of phanei'o- 

 gamic embryogeny. In a recent work by Auguste de Saint-Hilaire§, this 

 subject is fully and most ably discussed ; and after presenting a fair state- 

 ment of the late observations of Schleiden and of Mirbel, and after showing 

 the opposite views to which these observers would respectively conduct us, 

 this author concludes by thus pointing out the necessity of further investiga- 

 tion : " Esp^rons que de nouvelles recherches acheveront de lever les doutes 

 que Ton pourrait concevoir encore." The importance of forming a determi- 

 nate conclusion regarding the origin of the embryo is greatly enhanced by 

 the influence it must have in determining our notions of the nature and en- 



* Schleiden, ' Sur la Formation de I'Ovule, et I'Origine de rEmbryon dans les Phauerogames.' 

 Ann. des Sci. Nat., 2nde S6rie, Botan. Mars, 1839. 



t Wydler, ' Note sur la Formation de rEmbryon.' (Extrait d'une lettre de M. Wydler, profes- 

 seur k Berne, communique par M. A. de St. Hilaire k 1' Academic des Sciences k Paris. Oct. 1838.) 



X ' Notes pour servir k THistoire de I'Embryologie Veg6tale. Par MM. Mirbel et Spach.' Ann. 

 des Sciences Nat., 2nde Serie, Botan. Avril, 1839. 



§ ' Lemons de Botanique, comprenant principalement la Morphologie Veg^tale. Par Auguste de 

 St. Hilaire.' Paris 1841. 



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