180 Dr. Schleiden on the Development of the 



escape, leaving the four cells emptied of their contents (figs. 

 25 to 28). 



In this way we are enabled to recognise in the formation of 

 the anthers only a stage in the development of the lateral or- 

 gans of plants. 



If we proceed further we next meet with the ovarium, the 

 object and aim of the entire vegetable organization. In this 

 we find all the constituent parts so closely condensed that 

 their distinction appears very difficult, and it is here that the 

 most extended stage has offered itself for hypotheses of all 

 descriptions ; indeed many have advanced the most extrava- 

 gant speculations, relying upon their powers of guessing more 

 than upon their talent of observation, by which it cannot be 

 denied some fortunate hits have been made ; of such Agardh's 

 Organographie offers a series of capital examples. 



According to the general, and at present commonly re- 

 ceived view, the ovarium consists of buds {ovula), which de- 

 velop themselves on the borders of leaves (carpella). 



If we examine this view upon the usual grounds, we detect 

 unfortunately a logical incorrectness in the reasoning which 

 alone can be advanced and asserted in its support. And this 

 is not the only case in which an entirely unfounded assumption 

 has crept into science long ago, and which supported by tra- 

 dition has been esteemed sacred and impregnable, so that no 

 one has ventured to deprive the assumed deity of its veil, and 

 show that this adoration had been prostituted before a vain 

 puppet. We observe continually a sort of dread for the high 

 authorities which first introduced such a doctrine ; whilst in 

 natural science nature herself should be the only lawful au- 

 thority, and it is only in cases where she cannot be made sub- 

 servient to our inquiries that any other testimony should be 

 tolerated. 



If we contemplate the entire range of the vegetable world 

 we shall recognise this universal law, that a bud never forms 

 itself on a leaf but from the axis of the plant or its derivative 

 organs alone. If therefore the ovula are considered as buds, 

 we must, as matter of course, conclude that the placenta is an 

 altered axis. But what are the grounds which have been ad- 

 duced in order to controvert this simple and necessary con- 

 clusion ? 



1 . The well-known phsenomenon in Bryophyllum ; and 



2. A monstrous development of gemmae on the leaf of a 

 Malaxis and an Ornithogahim observed twice. 



The latter case is an abnormal product, and therefore 

 least of all suited to establish a general rule, which is in con- 

 tradiction to all known phaenomena, and which will, as well as 



