A. DeCandolle on the Life and Writings of Vaucher. 243 



labiate and at that time papillose stigma can in my opinion 

 receive the fecundating dust; moreover this stigma is verv 

 short." 



I quote these observations on the flowers of some plants in 

 the author's own words, not for the sake of adhering to his 

 theory on the action of the nectar, with which I think he is 

 rather too much possessed, but to show the use which may be 

 made of his book. In it we find accurate descriptions of the 

 situation of the nectariferous glands, of the evolution of the flo- 

 ral organs, of their relative approximation, of the epoch when 

 the pollen issues from the anthers, &c, things very important, 

 but until the present time little known. This is the true ser- 

 vice which M. Vaucher has rendered to science. As to the 

 indirect fecundation by the nectar, I confess that I feel doubts 

 in the greater part of the cases, as he himself acknowledges 

 with much sincerity in some of the examples* of which he 

 speaks. I cannot comprehend how grains of pollen, opening in 

 the nectar at the bottom of the flower, can get upon the stigma ; 

 I see that the rupture of the grains of pollen by any other liquid 

 than the viscous humour of the stigma, for example by the 

 rain, is a vexatious accident, which hinders the fecundation ; 

 in short, I do not comprehend why certain plants with direct 

 fecundation, according to M. Vaucher himself, are provided 

 with nectaries, and produce a very abundant honeyed hu- 

 mour f. Had we been so happy as to have had M. Vaucher 

 amongst us after the publication of his book, I should have 

 submitted these scruples to him, and with his usual honesty 

 and sincere desire to ascertain the truth, he would have re- 

 moved or adopted them. 



The respect which I feel for his memory cannot be com- 

 bined with a disguise which he detested. I therefore do not 

 conceal my doubts. If fresh observations, directed by the 

 work of our ingenious countryman, should lead me to his 

 opinion, I shall hasten to avow it. However, the attention of 

 botanists is awakened to this class of phenomena, and this 

 alone is a service rendered by M. Vaucher. 



Observations of another kind, and very various, are also to 

 be found in his work. The following are some taken at ha- 

 zard : — " When at the end of the summer we visit the running 

 or tranquil waters which the Myriophylla inhabit, we see their 

 bare stems stretched in long cords on the surface of these 

 same waters whose level is lowered. We then find that their 

 roots of the year are destroyed, and that others have succeeded 

 them, and we easily recognise underneath the new stems the 



* Vol. i. pp. 60, 62. 



f It is the case with the tulips and the crown imperial. 



R2 



