1026 



able to observe on their surface such a distribution of leaves or buds 

 as would announce the fusion of many partial spirals or verticils." 



Setting aside the anomalies before alluded to, and guarding against 

 the assumption that mere adherence explains an appearance which 

 chiefly depends upon a peculiar position of buds and the production 

 of numerous branches in a certain relation to each other, Mr. Hincks 

 regards these arguments as not possessing any great weight. In 

 regard to the 1st he remarks, that herbaceous plants which have usu- 

 ally but a single stem, not unfrequently produce several, which often 

 remain distinct, but their union into a sort of fasciated stem is by no 

 means uncommon. In proof of this he showed specimens of Primula 

 vulgaris and Hieracium aureum, exhibiting the union of two stems so 

 produced, and of Ranunculus bulbosus showing still greater com- 

 plexity in the stem, while the principal flower appeared to be made 

 up of two or three combined. The 2nd objection may appear in cer- 

 tain cases to be just, but the author is of opinion that it is hazardous 

 to conjecture that we have no more leaves present in a fasciated stem 

 than we should have in the same space in an ordinary one, and he 

 referred to specimens on the table as distinctly proving that an 

 increased number of leaves and buds is a general character of fasci- 

 ated stems. M. Moquin-Tandon himself has, indeed, referred to an 

 instance in Bupleurum falcatum where the leaves had been whorled, 

 doubtless, Mr. Hincks observes, from those belonging to two or more 

 stems being collected together. The 3rd argument he regards as very 

 deceptive, for the nature of the transverse section presented by cohe- 

 rent stems must depend not only on the intimacy of their union, but 

 also on the internal structure of the stems themselves. When two 

 flowers adhere without much pressure, they exhibit uniting circles 

 somewhat resembling a iigure of 8, but when more completely com- 

 bined they have one circumference of a much-elongated figure, and 

 something similar is to be expected in herbaceous stems. Even the 

 elongated pith of a transversely cut woody fasciated stem only marks 

 the intimate union of several branches ; and the author has noticed 

 instances of the union of two and only two stems when the internal 

 appearance was the same as in other fasciations. The 4th objection 

 is derived from the improbability of the lateral union of many stems ; 

 but in addition to the common examples of the union of two stems, 

 the author appealed to a distinct case of a union of four flower-stems 

 of Scrophularia aquatica so complete that a composite flower was 

 formed containing all the parts of the four component flowers, and 

 produced a fasciated stem of Ranunculus bidbosus, where the union 



