268 ORCHIDEA. 
to, takes place in Czsalpinez. The Mimosez are also aberrant 
in hypogynous indifinite stamens, an approach to which occurs, 
in a Pongamia, in which the hypogynous cup is 10-dentate. 
Orchidee аге the most complex, and the most perfect of 
Monocotyledons. "They are complex in their typical forms, 
in foliation, complex in their pseudo bulbs or reservoirs of 
nutriment, complex in resembling Dicotyledons in being capa- 
ble of division, for each pseudo bulb may be regarded asa 
distinct individual, complex in their high degree of petalism, 
and in the irregularity of their envelopes, highly complex in 
their gynandrism, complex according to Mr. Brown in the ratio 
of suppression, highly complex in the function of fecundation, 
complex in the female structure generally, complex generally 
in the anther, and simple only in the pollen, that is—so far 
as its ternary structure is considered,* but complex in the 
fruit, and complex in the seed. 
Perfection increases, simplicity diminishes with growth. 
In this regard, vegetables are as much subject to a law of 
progressive development as animals. As an animal fetus 
in the degree of its organization passes through stages 
typical of the grand zoological divisions, so do plants pass 
from a Cellular, into a Monocotyledonous Structure, and at- 
tain their term of perfection in Dicotyledons. 
This is most manifestly shewn in the embryo. "The rela- 
tion to Endogens occurs when the embryo is undivided, and 
also additionally in the loose structure of the parts gene- 
rally, during the earlier periods. And this may prove that 
singularity of cotyledon, is the most permanent character 
among Endogenous plants. 
united grains consolidated into waxy masses, or union by three or four to 
the grains—the sole essential character, hence this union ought to occur 
only in those Apostasie which by having a third stamen approach most 
to Orchidex. | 
