LEGUMINIFER”®. 57 
sepals all exhibit the same tendency, the pedicels of the flowers at the same time 
elongating. We have seen many specimens where the whole head of flowers on a stalk 
of Clover has undergone this transformation, presenting the most singular appearance 
possible, with the green leaves looking as if quite out of their accustomed place, and 
consequently very odd and uncomfortable. In passing through a field of Clover, it is worth 
while to look for such monstrosities ; and they are by no means uncommon. We may 
mention some interesting observations and drawings made by Mrs. Godwin Austen on 
this subject, first exhibited at the meeting of the British Association in 1849, and 
afterwards published in Henfrey’s “ Botanical Gazette” for March, 1850. It was a 
happy idea of the great German poet-botanist Goethe to reduce the previously received 
and complicated theory of plant-structure to the simple formula of leaf-formation. In 
this way everything presented itself to him under a different aspect ; what had been 
considered essential became accidental, and vice versd. In all the higher plants, foliage, 
flowers, and fruit were formerly regarded as essentially different parts. It was Goethe 
who first recognized in the flower and fruit the recurrence of the foliage, so that there 
is no essential difference between these three parts of a plant. In studying this subject 
somewhat carefully, it becomes evident that it is the leaf which in its Protean capability 
of transformation gradually assumes the form of fruit or flower. These are truly leaves— 
whorls of leaves differing in character and position from other leaves, although not in their 
essential nature. This great doctrine of unity of plan in creation was first demonstrated 
and successfully taught in relation to the vegetable kingdom, and has since been clearly 
worked out and adopted by the ablest comparative anatomists of this and other coun- 
tries as applied to higher organisms, and even to man himself. The susceptibility of 
the little Trifolium to the withdrawal of light, and its habit of closing its leaves 
somewhat on the approach of night, remind us of its family relationship to the group 
of sensitive plants. The observation of the older botanists led them to record this 
curious fact ; and Gerarde tells us that “ Pliny writeth and setteth it down for certaine 
that the leaves hereof do tremble and stand right up against the coming of a storme or 
tempest.” 
While examining the tissue of the stems of this plant under the microscope, the 
abundance of spiral fibre suggested the thought that this very elastic and delicate 
material might possibly have something to do with the hitherto unexplained cause of 
the curious movements of the sensitive plants. 
Microscopic research in skilful hands will do much to clear up these unsolved 
questions, 
Srction IV.—FRAGIFERA. Koch. 
Heads of flowers all axillary, stalked or sessile, sub-globose. 
Flowers numerous, sub-sessile ; pedicels with bracts at the base. 
Calyx more or less distinctly 2-lipped, the upper portion enlarging 
and becoming vesicular or inflated, membranous and reticulated 
in fruit, without a callous or hairy ring at the throat; teeth equal, 
the uppermost pair at length exceeding the others. Corolla mar- 
cescent, purple, rose, or white; standard shrivelling, not striated, 
sometimes deciduous. Pod sessile within the calyx, included, 1--or 
2-seeded. 
VOL. Itt. } I 
