406 Observations on the Organogeny of the Flower. 



mulacea, to that of Caryophyllece ; he then enters upon the sub- 

 ject, and successively describes the organogenic characters he has 

 observed in fresh specimens of Primula veris, cultivated variety 

 with simple flowers of Dodecatheon Meadia, Androsace lactea, A. 

 filiformis, Cortusa Matthioli } Lysimachia Nummularia, L.nemorum, 

 Lubinia spathulata, Anagallis platyphyllos, Samolus Valerandi; and 

 in dried specimens of Hottonia palustris, Anagallis tenella, Glaux 

 maritima and Lysimachia Ephemerum. 



" These plants presenting, with some slight modifications, the 

 same characters, it will be easy to sum them up in a few words. 

 1 ' At its first appearance the flower of the Primulacece shows it- 

 self in the form of a small globule, a little depressed, and entirely 

 cellular. In this state it is embraced by the young bract, the 

 axil of which it occupies. Very soon, towards the base of the 

 nascent bud, a slight peripherical and continuous swelling is seen, 

 the free border of which is speedily crimpled into five little fes- 

 toons. This swelling is the nascent calyx, and the five little pro- 

 cesses, the five organic sepals already soldered together. While 

 the calycinal protuberance is making its appearance the young 

 bud becomes a little enlarged, and five small rounded papillae, 

 alternating with the five sepals, are soon to be distinguished upon 

 the upper part, now surrounded by the calyx. In a short time 

 these papillae become elevated, disengaged from the common base, 

 and are to be distinguished as five small projecting bodies, 

 rounded at the summit and sides, and slightly compressed within 

 and without. These are easily recognised as the five stamens 

 alternating with the divisions of the calyx, and consequently op- 

 posite to those of the corolla. 



" The bud therefore possesses in this young state two of its ver- 

 ticils, the calyx and the male apparatus. The latter is already 

 clearly enough marked, while nothing yet indicates there the ap- 

 pearance of the corolla ; but from the time when the stamens are 

 developed into little distinct bodies, if the calyx be removed, a 

 slight swelling will easily be distinguished at their origin, on the 

 outer side, which swelling follows the whole outline of their 

 common base, and forms a well-marked projection outside each 

 of them. The slight swelling is the nascent corolla, and the five 

 little projections opposite to the stamens are the five organic pe- 

 tals which compose it. 



" About the time when the corollary protuberance shows itself 

 on the exterior of the base of the young anthers, the female organ 

 begins to manifest itself as a kind of continuous circular swelling, 

 in the centre of which is perceived a small rounded papilla. The 

 swelling is the first indication of the ovarian parietes, and the 

 papilla the first sketch of the placenta. At this period the young 

 pistil organizes and developes its two portions equally. 



" The peripheric swelling, rising more and more, quickly consti- 



