214 VARIABLENESS 



Linn. 22, some have 10, others 5, stamens; some 

 have 5, others 3 or 2, styles; in the Bicornesoi Linn. 

 18 (the Rhododendra 50, and Erica 51, of Jussieu) 

 the differences between 4 and 5, 8 and 10, or 5 and 10, 

 are so frequent, as to cause great trouble in classing 

 these plants, after the Linnsean artificial system. But 

 the instance of an inferior germen in Vacchnum, is a 

 wide and remarkable difference, of extremely rare 

 occurrence, between that genus and it's near relations 

 Menziesia, Erica, Arbutus, &c. 



In general, variations or diversities of structure 

 have been thought to take place most in the parts of 

 the flower, and especially in those accessory, rather 

 than essential, organs, the calyx and corolla. The 

 production of the fruit and seed, especially of the 

 latter, being the main object of all the rest, many 

 botanists have, reasonably enough, concluded, that 

 the peculiar organization, and even the number of 

 parts, in the seed-vessel, and, above all, the form and 

 number of theseeds, were likely to furnish indications 

 of the most important and invariable principles of 

 affinity or distinction. Even the diversities in the in- 

 ternal parts, or materials, of a seed, have of late been 

 laid undercontribution,forthepurposes of methodical 

 arrangement ; as appears from the foregoing explana- 

 tions of different botanical systems. 



As far as regards the comparative number of seeds, 

 the slightest observation will teach any person, that 

 Nature has not always made this circumstance of 



