( 143 ) 



XII. On some remarkable Deviations from the usual Structure of 

 Seeds and Fruits. By Robert Brown, Esq. F.R.S., Lib. L.S, 



Read March 5, 1816. 



JThe principal part of the following paper was read to the So- 

 ciety in March 1813. It Avas then withdrawn with a view of 

 rendering it more perfect by additional facts, which I hoped I 

 might be able to collect. Since that time I have not had it in my 

 power to pay much attention to the subject. As, however, the 

 facts formerly stated appear to me of some importance, and are 

 as yet unpublished, I take the liberty of again submitting them 

 to the Society, along with a few additional instances of anoma- 

 lies in the structure of seeds and fruits, hardly less remarkable 

 than those contained in the original essay. 



It is, I believe, generally admitted by physiological botanists, 

 that the seeds of plants are never produced absolutely' naked : — in 

 other words, that the integument through some point or process 

 of which impregnation takes place, cannot properly be considered 

 as part of the seed itself. 



That such a covering, distinct from the seed, really exists, may 

 in most, perhaps in all, cases be satisfactorily shown by a careful 

 examination of the unimpregnated ovarium, to a part only of 

 whose cavity the ovulum will be found to be attached. 



There are, however, many cases where soon after fcecundation, 

 and more remarkably still in the ripe fruit, this integument ac- 

 quires 



