844 SEXUALITY OF VEGETABLES. CHAP. VI. 



detected in most plants, and the peculiar functions 

 of the several organs. There are, however, some 

 plants producing fruit, in which the organs of fructi- 

 fication have not yet been detected, but we con- 

 clude, from analogy, that such organs exist in them, 

 and discharge similar functions : and this inference 

 has been accordingly confirmed by means of the 

 actual discoveries to which the aid of the micro- 

 scope has led. The first minute portion that ever 

 Refuted by was removed of the veil concealing the fructification 

 very ofthe f cryptogamous plants was removed by the hand of 

 tion l afthe MichelH 9 in his detecting of the stamens and pistils 

 mosses. o f Mosses, though he does not seem to have enter- 

 tained any correct notion of their respective func- 

 tions :'* and to the meritorious example of minute 

 investigation which he thus exhibited we are per- 

 haps indebted for the succeeding illustrations of 

 Dillenius and Linnaeus, who detected indeed the 

 parts of the fructification of the Mosses, but unfortu- 

 nately mistook the capsule for the anthers, and con- 

 sequently the seeds for the pollen. At length, 

 however, the task of investigation was undertaken 

 by the illustrious Hedwig, who detecting the errors 

 of his predecessors, and penetrating into the very 

 recesses ofthe mystery, exhibited a view ofthe sub- 

 ject so correct and so well supported by fact as to 

 leave but little doubtful, and to authorise a conclu- 

 sion directly the reverse of that of Linnaeus the 

 anthers of Linnaeus being proved to be in fact the 

 * Nova Plantarum Genera, 



