IN FLOWERING PLANTS. 177 
Ovulum in its earlier stages. 
A vegetable ovulum is, at its earliest period of existence, a 
mere extension from some part of the surface of the placenta ; 
it is at this time a rounded sessile, entirely cellular, homoge- 
neous body, not exhibiting any trace of teguments. 
The first change that takes place consists in the separa- 
tion of this body to a greater or less extent from the placenta, 
by the elongation of a portion of this, forming the commence- 
an entire calyx, which in the last instance adheres to the ovary. In the former it 
may adhere or not, but the sert is only partial. ; 
Hypogynous stamens presume the existence of an inferior calyx and corolla, 
but they are not linked with any y distinotion of, or coalition with the arto of ne, eut er 
floral denen although a monopetalous corolla generally i 
stamens. Indefinite stamens are to be loo ked for as abnormal, and hence heit com- 
M rarity : Aes are almost unknown in Monocotyledons, of which there is 

not one order so characterized. Taking the ud e of Polypetale, Apetale and - 
A landes they are about in the proportion o 
A Sio petufodi corolla ex be almost said to nde definite stamens; for we 

are not to take into which cohesion of the bases of the petals 
takes place through aay Ines of indefinite — as in Stravadium, pre ete. 
Ovarium inferum, with th eption of a 

rium. 1 think Mr. Brown says that he is not acquainted with any instance of 
a truly simple ovarium being inferior, or adherent to the calyx : so that it is very 
probable that Dipsacez, Calycerez, Lorant thacez, Balanophoree, Combretacee 

nion about the number of a carpella be correct, there should be 4 fascicles, 
whereas there are only 2. Mr. Brown has likewise ges that in some Dipsacee 
Ranunculacee, Rosaceæ, Ochnacez, etc. etc. and such is universally the case if 
we look at the component parts of ovaria in Copia: If this be true then, none of 
bove instances, nor many of those of non-adherent fruits, such as Laurinex are 
e proportion of adherent ovaria, to perigynous stamens with free ovaria, is 
about l to 3, but exalbuminous orders amount to 53, and the mires are only 
E ies ees peter arnt ANS. ans se - p of which e adher 
to 34, um of these 
i are albumi inous. Apetale i are characterized in some Forte by a prevalence of 
perigynous stamens, and fa e have definite sees ; to such an extent is this 
carried, that about wise tire en ie whole have them 
Fasion says p. 87. Gen. Plant. Curin staminibus pognis multó rarior quam 
in perigynis hac Apetalarum ad Polypetalas accessio 
chlamydez are similarly — so far at E as the latter character is 
concerned, 

= 2 A 

* 
