ARETHUSA. 381 
ed before the stigmatic surfaces of the two lateral carpellary 
leaves are developed. | 
The ovula are of remarkably late develópment, at the time 
of expansion, they are mere points of expansion of the 
placentze, and they do not acquire their perfect inversion and 
structure until long after the fall of the perianth, and the ap- 
plication of the pollen to the stigmata, the ovaria at this time 
being of a yellowish colour. 
The stigmata of the perfect flower are certainly three, of 
these the anticous one is furnished with a short and stout 
style, forming the base of part of the clinandrium, it is 
largest, and does not touch the two lateral ones, "These are 
rather obscure, but exist in the shape of two masses of stig- 
matic tissue, in close approximation forming the lower part of 
the viscid space, between these and the anticous one there 
is a considerable sized stigmatic canal. 5 
hese stigmata may be traced much earlier than I thought 
by a greater cellulosity round the lower margin of the chink, 
but the appearances are obscure. : 
‚ This instance appears to me to corroborate the accuracy of 
Mr. Brown’s hypothesis of the structure of Orchidez, at 
least of the less developed forms. 
The appearance of the two abortive stamina, which after- 
wards are called the auricule, subsequently to the develop- 
ment of the anticous stamen, to say nothing of their situation 
relatively to the parts of. the perianth, is strictly in accordance 
with Mr. Brown’s views of their belonging to the inner series. 
The anticous stigma never presents any appearance of 
forming a part of an involute leaf. Even at the earliest stages, 
I have examined it, it has the appearance of an angular body, 
glandular slightly convex on its upper front surface. I have 
not seen any traces of any separation of the style, corres- 
ponding to the other stigmata. This’ is remarkable enough, 
for the carpella are equally formed, instances however of in- 
equality of styles are not uncommon, although I know of 
none in which is the earliest stages they are not equal. 
