180 CLASS GYNANDRIA. 



nected with such uncommon and mutable circum- 

 stances of soil and situation, as to promise little to man, 

 but the rational amusement of admiring and observing 

 their very singular and uncommon structure. 



We have already had occasion to observe a natural 

 tendency to abortion of parts and organs in the tribe of 

 ringent or irregular flowers ; we have remarked, that, 

 in the Labiate, instead of 5 stamens, existing in 

 symmetry with the perianth of quinary divisions, 4 

 are generally found ; and in several genera, as Monar- 

 da. Cunila, Salvia, and Collinsonia, only 2 perfect 

 stamens, in common ; but in the Sage 2 other imper- 

 fect anthers, and in one of the Collinsonias no less than 

 4 perfect anthers, constantly. The 5th stamen, of which 

 the rudiment is often present, is likewise suppressed, 

 in the flowers of the 2d order (Angiospermia) of 

 Didynamia, or irregular flowers. There is, also, 

 every reason to believe, that in this monocotyledonous 

 tribe, the Orchide;e, whose flowers are always irreg- 

 ular, there exists an hereditary abortion of organs ', 

 and this is rendered still more probable from the re- 

 markably eccentric, or even lateral position of the 

 style, and the absence of filaments ; the moveable disk, 

 on which the pollen is seated, being all the special 

 support which the anthers, or their substitute, the po- 

 linia (or masses of pollen), ever present. The 6 pe- 

 tals, and 3-sided capsule, would lead us to expect, as 

 in the Lily, a ternary number in the stamens and stig- 

 ma, if complete ; but from the restraint and abortion 

 induced or indicated by the irregularity of the corolla, 

 and the unconcentric position of the central organs, 

 we never find more than an indication of 2 lobes to 

 the stigma. In Orchis, and some other related genera, 

 there are only 2 pollinia or equal to one anther ; but 

 in Malaxis, Corrallorhiza (Coral-root), and some 

 others, 4 pollinia, or 2 anthers ; and in Bhlia,8 pollinia, 



