STIGMA, 73 
The only anomaly, if it can be called one, is the intimate 
union of the stigmata with each other. 
To explain 5. if such an instance did exist, we should 
have only to assume that the axis of the carpellary leaf is 
not always the longest line. 
It will be seen that I have adduced the venation of the 
style of Orobanche in favour of my argument, that that 
natural. family only presents an apparent anomaly, and it 
appears to me to bear so strongly on this point, that it 
should always be taken into consideration in discussions on 
the nature of a given pistillum. 
Very often the style has but one vein, which is a continu- 
ation of the axillary or dorsal vein, commonly called midrib ; 
generally perhaps two marginal ones are superadded to the 
lamina, which only in some cases are prolonged up the style. 
Even in those instances in which a simple style has seve- 
ral vessels, the central vein will be generally recognisable 
by its size. : . 
It is in compound pistilla tbat the value of the venation 
as an evidence will be found to be greatest. For, although 
the number of the veins may, by the prolongation of one 
or more of the marginal vessels, exceed the number of 
carpellary leaves, it is in no case that I am aware of, ever 
less—a fact which, with reference to that very anomalous 
genus Punica, I take to be of considerable importance. 
Most of the modifications of venation found in leaves may 
be found in the carpellary leaves, if examined at sufficiently 
late periods. 
Nor are instances wanting of that peculiar venation of the 
corolla, characteristic of Composite, which we briefly and 
emphatically call Brunonian. In this case the style may 
obviously have 2 or 3 vessels: if 3, the central one will be 
found to be recurrent ; at least so I have found it in Papaver. 
Some idea may be obtained of the extent of the style by 
the vessels, which I do not find to be continued into the 
stigmatic tissue. Vide, Graminez on this head. ! 
[From the stigma being nothing but the external com- 
munications of placental surface, arises in a great measure 
L 
