THE COROLLA. 261 



secretions of a flower, the elastic and inflam- 

 mable pollen , the honey, and the exquisite! y 

 volatile perfume, as we know from the curi- 

 ous discoveries of modern chemistry how great 

 a share light has in the production of such, 

 we cannot but conclude that the petals must 

 be of primary importance with respect to their 

 secretion by its means. 



Sometimes the Corolla is very short-lived ; 

 sometimes very lasting, even till the fruit is 

 perfected, though mostly in a faded condi- 

 tion. In double flowers I have observed it 

 to be much more durable than in single ones 

 of the same species, as Anemones and Pop- 

 pies, because, as I conceive, of its not having 

 performed its natural functions, the stamens 

 and pistils of such flowers being obliterated, 

 or changed to petals ; hence the vital prin- 

 ciple of their corolla is not so soon exhausted 

 as usual. Phil. Trans, for 17b'8, p. l6o. 



The Corolla, as already observed, is not 

 essential. Whatever its functions may be, 

 the) r can be occasionally performed by the 

 Ca^lyx perhaps, or even by the Filaments of 

 the Stamens ; as those of leaves are, in leaf- 

 less plants, by the stems. When a flower 



