NAT. ORDER. ORCHIDE.(E. 71 



the ovarium by a distinct open canal ; the impregnation takes 

 effect by the absorption from the pollen-masses, through the gland 

 into the stigmatic canal ; capsule inferior, bursting, with three 

 valves and three I'ibs, very rarely bacate ; the seeds are parietal 

 and numerous ; the testa is loose, reticulated, and contracted at 

 each end ; there is no albumen ; the embryo is a solid, undivided, 

 fleshy mass ; the roots are fleshy and hard ; the leaves arc simple, 

 and quite entire, and often articulated with the stem ; Jlowers, 

 solitary. 



We do not deem it necessary, in this place, to enter into an 

 historical inquiry as to the gradual alteration which has from time 

 to time taken place in the opinions of different botanists, with re- 

 gard to the structure of the gynandrous apparatus of these most 

 curious plants, or to explain what degree of error has heretofore 

 existed in the descriptions of those who mistook masses of pollen 

 for anthers, or a column of stamens for a style. Such errors could 

 only have occurred at a period when the laws of organization 

 were totally unknown : but they have now been corrected, and 

 described in a more jjerfect manner, by different writers. But 

 long before the publication of any rational exjilanation of the 

 structure of this most beautiful family of plants, while botanists 

 were in utter darkness upon the subject, it was most fully inves- 

 tigated by a gentleman, unrivalled for the perfection of his micro- 

 scopical analysis, the beauty of his drawings, and the admirable 

 skill with which he follows nature in her most secret workings ; the 

 sketches of which we have before us, were executed from the year 

 1794 to 1807, in which, not only that which has been j^ublished 

 since that period is shown in the most distinct and satisfactory 

 manner, but in which more is represented than botanists are even 

 now aware of. By these means we hope to be able to give some 

 of those extraordinary productions of the pencil to the world, 

 in ;m illustration of this curious family of plants, and which is now 

 in preparation. If the gynandrous apparatus of an Orchideous 



