SECT. I. THE FLOWER. 10J 



Indeed it cannot be true that the corolla is a con- 

 tinuation of the liber or inner bark, in cases in 

 which it is inserted in the calyx, if it be true that 

 the calyx is itself a continuation of the outer bark, 

 as the rule implies. And if the corolla that is in- 

 serted in the calyx is not a continuation of the 

 inner bark, of what then is it a continuation ? Of 

 the calyx evidently, which is, by hypothesis, a con- 

 tinuation of the outer bark. But if an acknow- 

 ledged corolla may, like an acknowledged calyx, 

 originate in the outer bark, then I cannot tell 

 whether the single envelope is to be called calyx or 

 corolla, even though it should so originate. The 

 rule is consequently good for nothing. 



Linnseus does not indeed impose it as a rule of 

 practice, being furnished with what he might, per- 

 haps, regard as a better ; though the distinction is 

 both clearly and confidently stated in his work.* 

 But it has been since adopted, with all its imperfec- 

 tions upon its head, as the grand test of discrimina- 

 tion in this doubtful case, even by the celebrated 

 Jussieu himself, the first botanist of the present 

 age. In consequence of the adoption of this 

 opinion, Jussieu has been led to regard as a calyx 

 the beautiful blossom of the Tulip and other liliace- 

 ous plants, which has been, by the common consent 

 of almost all other botanists whatever, regarded as 

 a corolla. 



In order to get rid of the difficulty, some botanist* 

 * Phil, But. sect. 86. 



