321 



corolla, and the hypogynous stamens with two-celled anthers opening 

 by terminal pores. Unlike the stamens of the Rosaceae, those organs 

 in the Ericaceae spring directly from the base of the ovary, and are 

 entirely uncombined with either calyx or corolla. The carpels, more- 

 over, are united into a many-celled ovary, and are not distinct as in 

 the RosacesB. The variations in the form of the corolla and number 

 of stamens are not to be taken into account, since these are variable 

 characters. And that a very close relationship really exists between 

 Rhododendron and some other Ericaceae, is proved by the artificial 

 production of a hybrid between Rhododendron chamaecistus and 

 Menziesia empetriformis — the interesting Bryanthus erectus, as re- 

 ported in the Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 

 (Phytol. iv. 156). 



Nothing surely can be more natural than the location of the prim- 

 rose, the Cyclamen, and the water-violet in the same order; since 

 they all agree in possessing the certain characters afforded by the 

 monopetalous five-lobed corolla, five epipetalous stamens opposite to 

 the lobes of the corolla, and a free central placenta. The opposite 

 position of the stamens with respect to the lobes of the corolla is an • 

 apparent contradiction to the law of alternation, according to which, 

 when equal in number to the petals, they ought to be alternate with 

 them. But the anomaly is apparent only ; for in cases like that of 

 Primula, it is due to the non-development of an outer whorl of sta- 

 mens, which, if present, would have normally alternated both with 

 the petals, and with the fully developed inner whorl of stamens. In 

 some species of Lysimachia, and in Samolus, this outer whorl is 

 actually present in the form of scales, or barren stamens; and in Pri- 

 mula, Hottonia, and some others, their position is indicated by a 

 shade of colour deeper than that of the petals generally, at the point 

 of junction, and alternating with the petals and the perfect stamens. 



The author has himself pointed out, at p. 89, one of the certain 

 characters which unite " in similar bonds " the butler-cup, the lark- 

 spur, and other plants, which, in the extract above given, he declares 

 to " have certainly little resemblance to each other." We allude to 

 " the seed-vessels being numerous and pod-like, as in columbine and 

 larkspur;" and yet these are two of the plants, which, at p. 89, are 

 considered as not so very unnaturally combined, because of this cor- 

 respondence in the fruit, while at p. 10, in the foregoing extract, their 

 combination is declared to be most unnatural. So far as outward 

 appearance goes, the plants composing the order Ranunculaceac cer- 

 tainly do differ widely ; but then in the certain character afforded by 



