370 IMPORTANCE OF THE LEAF. 



pound fruit is composed of several leaves united round 

 a common centre, their sides being opened so as to 

 form a communication between them, and their edges 

 adhering together. This is obvious from capsules which, 

 when ripe, split asunder, at which time each portion is 

 a separate pod. It is also shown by different species 

 of one genus, in which modifications exist of the prin- 

 ciple on which their fruit is formed ; for instance, the 

 capsule of nigilla orient alls consists of pods assembled 

 round a centre, and partially united ; in nigilla damas- 

 cena their union is complete."* 



Professor Lindley thus explains the same view : 

 " Every flower, with its peduncle and bracteolse, being: 

 the development of a flower-bud, and flower-buds being 

 altogether analogous to leaf-buds, it follows as a corol- 

 lary that every flower, with its peduncle and bracteolse, 

 is a metamorphosed branch. 



" And, further, the flowers being abortive branches, 

 whatever the laws are of the arrangement of branches 

 with respect to each other, the same will be the laws of 

 the flowers with respect to each other. 



" In consequence of a flower and its peduncle being- 

 a branch in a particular state, the rudimentary or meta- 

 morphosed leaves which constitute bractese, floral en- 

 velopes, and sexes, are subject to exactly the same laws 

 of arrangement as regularly-formed leaves."f 



The idea that the leaf is the principal organ of the 

 plant, and that from it all the other organs are probably 

 developed, is worthy the genius of the great German 

 poet. 



Every leaf, a mystery in itself, is an individunl gifted 

 with peculiar powers ; they congregate in families, and 

 each one ministers to the formation of the branch on 



* Die Metamorphose der Pflanzen : Goethe, sect. 78. 

 f Lindley's Elements of Botany. 



