ie MERLE 
LAM Lr iih 
i 
GOETHE ON THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLANTS. 361 
16. Nature herself, in instances of regular and constant occurrence, 
has further disclosed to us in manifold ways the fruitfulness concealed 
inthe leaf. Thus in the Lime, a leaf (in rather an altered state it is 
true, but still easily recognized) produces from its midrib a little stalk 
with a perfect blossom and fruit. Still more remarkable is the manner 
in which the blossom and fruit are situated on the leaf, in Ruscus. : 
77. Yet greater, we may even say monstrous, is the inherent fruit- 
fulness of the fronds of Ferns, which by an internal impulse, and per- 
~ haps independently of any definite operation of stamens and pistils,T 
develope, and scatter around, innumerable seeds (spores), or rather, 
germs capable of growth; one single frond rivalling a wide-spreading 
plant, nay, a large branching tree, in fruitfulness. 
18. If we keep in view the observations which have now been made, 
we shall not fail to recognize the leaf in all seed-vessels, notwithstand- 
ing their manifold forms, their variable structure, and different combina- 
a simple leaf folded together, with its margins united. The husks 
(Schoten) would consist of several leaves grown one upon another. 
. Compound pods (capsules) might be explained as composed of several 
leaves united round a common centre, joined together at their margins, 
but open towards each other on the inner side. This is obvious enough 
In the case of the 
ortion of its length, 
leaf-like branches. 
ns of which ^y 
* The illustrations of this paragraph are not well chosen. 
Lime-tree, the flower-stalk is simply adherent to the bract for a 
while the so-called leaves of Ruscus are more properly considered as 
ome, however, contend that the leaf-like organs, on he mar 
flowers are borne, in Xylophyila, are truly to be r 
loid branches. In Bryophyllum caly 
the leaves give origin to a great num 
un 
= 
pa . MES 
+ The recent researches of Nügeli, Suminski, and 
istils ri 
e 
by the spermatozoids formed in, and emitted from, the antheridia. i 
The principle is made by De Candolle the foundation of a system = pere 
tion of fruits and seed-vessels, which is m — f Tr online € 
h t researches 0 10900) x 
as yet been proposed. ‘The more Pese ees with leaves. (Ann. Se. Nat. Bot. 
r 
instances of a similar foliaceous condition of the carpeis. V^ : F 
logie Végétale,’ p. 204; Brongniart, ‘Are ives du Musée, tom. 1V. p. yt vi ard 
That the pistil may sometimes be formed from the dilated extremity of the brane 
was not suspected in Goethe’s time. 
