98 Mr. Brown's Observations on the 



number subject to reduction, that this reduction, where the flower 

 is of a regular form, takes place in the same order in each natural 

 family. Thus in Jimcece, which are generally hexandrous, the tri- 

 androus species have their stamina constantly placed opposite to 

 the three outer leaves of the perianthium, while in Restiaceos, As- 

 phodeleae, and I believe in a great part of the regular-flowered 

 Liliacese, in certain species of which a similar reduction occurs, 

 the stamina in the triandrous species are placed opposite to the 

 inner leaves or segments of the perianthium. But in both cases 

 the greater perfection of those stamina that exist in genera or 

 species reduced to the smallest number, is indicated, where there 

 is no reduction, by the earlier bursting of their antherae ; so that 

 froni this circumstance the order of reduction or abortion of sta- 

 mina in any natural family may with some confidence be pre* 

 dieted by an examination of those genera where the number is 

 complete. 



Wherever the separation of sexes takes place, it may be assumed 

 that the female flower is the more perfect production. And if 

 this be admitted, where both sexes exist in the same simple spike 

 the female should be found at its base, or where expansion com- 

 mences, which is almost uniformly the case. For the same rea- 

 son, in the trifid or trichotomous inflorescence, the female should 

 be placed in the centre, Avhich is also generally the fact*. 



This connexion between praecocity and perfection of develop- 

 ment is even more constant than the order of expansion in certain 

 forms of inflorescence ; as it is found to extend to several of the 

 exceptions to this order. 



Thus in the apparently simple spike of Poterium, where the 

 order of expansion is descendent, the female flowers occupy the 



* To tliis order the most remarkable exception occurs in Begonia, in which the male 

 flowers are central, and expand long before the lateral female flowers. 



upper 



