133 



series to otliers again show the impossibilitj of fixing its position. Its relation 

 to the Farinosae has been referred to before. It is also allied to the Micro- 

 spermse, as analogous facts tetween the two series are shown in the imperfect 

 staminal whorl in the all famihes of the Scitamineae and the Orcliidaceao, and in 

 the floral diagram of Mma and that of Arundma peiiiandra Reichb. f^. 



Finally, he refers to the Microsperm?e-\ That this series is related to 

 the Lihifloras, Farinosae, Triuridales, Helobiae, and Scitaminese has already 

 been stated. Consequently, it is a series which should change its position 

 according to diflferent views. I repeat, in this case and in all cases, that 

 their (species, genera, etc.) positions vary with the 'views taken of them. 

 Change as tliey do, yet they do not change tlieir positions at random, but do 

 so according to the universal law, which I would call the law of natural 

 relatiou. 



Engler then makes the foUowing statement''^ as to the relation of the 

 series above referred to : — 



Aus diesen hier nnr kurz behandelten Beziehungen der Keihen tmd Familien der 

 Monokotyletloneen ei^ebt sich, dass die Anfitnge derselben weit zuriick liegen, dass 

 wohl diagramraatisch einzehie Reihen von anderen abgeleitet werden konnen, im iibri- 

 gen aber noch Grundverschiedenheiten existieren, welche die einzehien Keihen und 

 aiich die einzehien FamiUen charakterisieren. 



The same statement can be seen in the diagram given by him in p. 373. 

 In my opiuion, however, the series we have thus far studied, as we have 

 stated before, are all closely inter-related. ludeed, we are convinced of the 

 existence of a basic unity, instead of the basic difference (Grundverschiedeuheit) 

 mentioned by Engler in the above quotations. Their inter-relation and basic 

 unity can be better understood than otherwise, if we accepb the participation 

 theory which we have aUuded to before. 



Further, Engler proceeds to explain his system of the Dicotyledones. 

 Here he refei-s to the difference between Eichler's system and liis own, and 

 remarks"^ : — 



Eine der wesentlichsten Anderungen im Systeme der Dikotyledoneen ist zuntchst 



1) Kat. Pfl.-£am. 11—6, p. 75. 2) Englfji, A. — ErlKuternngen, 1. c. p. 361. 



3) Englee, A. — Erljtuterungen, 1. c. p. 361. 



4) Englbr, A. — Krlituterungen, 1. c. p. 362. 



