254 ORCHIDES, 
are they opposed to the lateral sepals, or the lateral petals, 
or bot 
With reference to the constitution of the ovary. I may 
mention that in Vanilla planifolia, according to Mr. Bauer's 
drawing there are obviously six carpellary leaves, but their 
relation to the perianth is not represented. 
"rue Orchidez however are barely explainable by assuming 
them to have an equal number of carpellary leaves, because 
as Mr. Brown has remarked, the situation of the placenta is 
quite contrary to all analogy, if we take the smaller divi- 
sions to represent the three other carpellary leaves. 
But Mr. Brown's arguments in favour of these divisions 
occurring as the first steps to a reploid dehiscence, is not 
conclusive, unless a similar tendency is traceable in the other 
orders in which Mr. Brown adduces the occurrence of other 
examples. 
Can any thing be made out about the true structure of the 
ovary, by comparing the great variety in size between the 
supposed carpellary leaves in the different families. For in- 
stance compare them in Neottia and genuine Orchidee with 
Dendrobeze etc. 
Can it by means be made out, that the lines on the ovary 
are analogous to those so distinctly characteristic of certain 
Vandeous genera. Vandez here include all with definite waxy 
masses. 
In Epipactis the lateral flowers appear to correspond to the 
lateral petals. The line of union of the styles with the 
unilaterally dorsal mass of filaments is also apparent, as well 
as that between the styles themselves, of which the central 
is considerably the largest. 
e only conclusion to which I was led by the examination 
of two or three columns of D. normale, was that the vascular 
bundles of the stamens were larger according as the stamens 
were more perfect, and that the bundles for the broader teeth 
were not of constant occurrence. 
In one column the vascular fascicles visible on a trans- 
