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altogether similar to the sterile appendages ; and in Reseda Phyteuma the 

 same appearance is always assumed by the perfect stamens after the anthers 

 have performed their functions. Thirdly, That there is an equal analogy 

 between the calyx of the neutral florets and that of the perfect floret ; because 

 both have a peculiar glandular margin, the same form, both produce their 

 stamens from the surface ; and because the upper edge of the calyx in the 

 sterile florets has the same relation to the axis of each particular head as that 

 of the perfect floret has to the axis of the whole inflorescence. In Reseda 

 Phyteuma, which has the margin of its neutral florets rolled back, the same 

 thing occurs in the perfect floret. Fourthly, That there is no instance of the 

 same analogy existing between the disk and petals of other plants." Coll. Bot. 

 no. 22. Hence I inferred that the genus must be excluded from even the 

 vicinity of Capparidece, with which it is usually placed. This view of the 

 structure of Reseda, however paradoxical it may appear, has been adopted by 

 M. Decandolle ; but Mr. Brown, in the Appendix to Major Denham's Narra- 

 tive, has advanced various arguments in opposition to it. By these I was at 

 first induced to believe that I was mistaken in my theory ; but upon reflection, 

 and a subsequent repetition of the observations I originally made, I have been 

 led to decide that Mr. Brown's arguments, strong as they undoubtedly are, do 

 not carry conviction with them, and are, in fact, less weighty than they seem 

 to be. In the first place, this learned botanist does not attempt to invalidate 

 some of the arguments upon which I was led to my original conclusion ; and 

 secondly, those which he has advanced in support of the contrary opinion 

 appear to me to be open to objection. Mr. Brown's arguments in favour of the 

 popular mode of under standing the structure of Reseda are: 



1st. That the presence and appearance of the hypogynous disk, the anoma- 

 lous structure of the petals, and the aestivation of the flower, all occur in a 

 greater or less degree in Capparideas, and have been found united in no other 

 family of plants ; and, 



2d. That the appendages, (which I consider abortive stamens,) being formed 

 before the part upon "which they rest, (and which I have called calyx,) are con- 

 sequently to be referred to the corolla rather than the stamens : this, at least, is 

 how I understand the chief argument employed by Mr. Brown. I hope I do 

 not misunderstand. 



3d. That the processes of the supposed petals are analogous to those of 

 Dianthus, Lychnis, and Silene. 



To the first of these arguments I reply that, without meaning in the slightest 

 degree to doubt the accuracy of Mr. Brown's observations, which I know are 

 beyond question, I have not been able to discover any Capparideous plants 

 which are in my judgment analogous in the conformation of their parts to 

 Reseda ; and that, even presuming appearances of analogy to exist more une- 

 quivocally than Mr. Brown states that they do, such a fact would not by itself 

 shake the evidence I have produced to the contrary. To this I may add, that 

 analogical evidence in support of my position, fully as powerful as that said to 

 exist against it in Capparidese, is furnished by Datisca, a genus I think evi- 

 dently very near Reseda, which is unquestionably apetalous, and of which 

 the calyx of the pistilliferous flowers may without difficulty be compared with 

 that of Reseda, except that it is adherent to the ovarium. ' 



To the second objection it may be answered, that in organs of so anomalous 

 a structure as those of Reseda, there can be no difficulty in supposing that 

 anomaly to overcome the ordinary laws of successive formation ; that, more- 

 over, the argument is founded upon an assumption that the petals are always 

 formed before the stamens : a point with no proof of which am I acquainted, 

 and which I think open to considerable doubt ; for instance, are the petals of 

 Illecebreae developed before the stamens or subsequent totfiem? and how is 



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