308 THE FLOWER. 



gin or upper surface. The ovules, therefore, instead of being in- 



407 4C9 408 405 



406 



closed in an ovary, and acted upon by the pollen through the in- 



the advocates of this theory are obliged to suppose that the axis divides within 

 the compound ovary into twice as many branches as there are carpels in its 

 composition, and that these branches regularly adhere, in pairs, one to each 

 margin of all the carpellary leaves. Its application is attended with still 

 greater difficulties in the case of simple and uncombined pistils, where the 

 ovules occupy the whole inner suture, which are doubtless justly assumed as 

 the regular and typical state of the gynascium; but to which the new hypoth- 

 esis can be adapted only by supposing that an ovuliferous branch of the axis 

 enters each carpel, and separates into two parts, one cohering with each mar- 

 gin of the metamorphosed leaf. This view, however, not only appears very 

 improbable, but may be disproved by direct observation, as it has been most 

 completely by those monstrosities in which an anther is changed into a pistil, 

 or even one part of the anther is thus transformed and bears ovules, while the 

 other, as well as the filament, remains unchanged ; a case where the forma- 



FIG. 403. Zamia integrifolia (the Coontie of Florida). 404. Section of the sterile ament. 

 405. One of its scales detached, bearing scattered anthers. 406. Fertile ainent, from which a 

 quarter-section is removed. 407. A pistillate flower, consisting of two ovules pendent from 

 the thickened summit of the carpellary scale. 408. A drupaceous seed, from which a part of 

 the pulpy outer portion is removed. 409. Vertical section through the seed (of the natural size), 

 showing the pulpy outer coat, the hard inner integument, the albumen, and the embryo. 



