STRUCTURE.] DEDUPLICATION. 333 



stamens equal in number to the petals, and opposite to them 

 one to one., we find several stamens opposite one and the 

 same petal, and this in consequence of the separation of a 

 determinate number of bundles arising from the fibre which 

 should have produced one single normal stamen, a separation 

 which often takes place before the point of exsertion of such 

 choristate, unlined or multiplied stamens, according as each 

 botanist may choose to call them." (Considerations, fyc. p. 34). 

 But this hypothesis appears to me destitute of real founda- 

 tion for the following reasons : 



1. There is no instance of unlining which may not be as 

 well explained by the theory of alternation. 



2. It is highly improbable and inconsistent with the sim- 

 plicity of Vegetable Structure, that in the same flower the 

 multiplication of organs should arise from two wholly different 

 causes ; viz., alternation at one time and unlining at another. 



3. As it is known that in some flowers, where the law of 

 alternation usually obtains, the organs are occasionally placed 

 opposite each other, it is necessary for the supporters of the 

 unlining theory to assume that in such a flower a part of the 

 organs must be alternate and a part unlined, or at one time 

 be all alternate and at another time be all unlined, which is 

 entirely opposed to probability and sound philosophy, (See 

 the Camellias figured in the Elements of Botany, p. 76., figs. 

 156, 157, 158.) 



4. The examination of the gradual development of flowers, 

 the only irrefragable proof of the real nature of final struc- 

 ture, does not in any degree show that the supposed process 

 of unlining has a real existence. 



Nevertheless, the theory of deduplication has its supporters 

 among French Botanists of eminence. 



When the petals of a corolla are all distinct, then the 

 corolla is said to be polypetalous ; but if they cohere at all by 

 their contiguous margins, so as to form a tube, it then 

 becomes what is called monopetalous ; a term of the same 

 origin as that of monophyllous, in regard to calyx (see p. 329), 

 and for which that of gamopetalous has been sometimes 

 substituted. 



If the petals adhere to the bases of the stamens, so as to 



