CHAPTER XIV. 



MORPHOLOGY OF THE CITRUS. 



" Without some reflection it will appear all rubbish ; perhaps it 

 will appear so after reflection." CHARLES DARWIN. 



IN this chapter I have attempted to give form to 

 various ideas which arose in my mind while studying 

 the numerous cultivated varieties of oranges, lemons, 

 &c., of India. I have attempted to show the changes, 

 according to my views, which the citrus might have 

 gone through, and the devices, so to speak, it has re- 

 sorted to, in order to " struggle for its existence," and 

 to push itself into notice, and into the position it occu- 

 pies at present. Some parts of this chapter are to be 

 found in text books, being accepted by botanists ; 

 others, however, are in no way endorsed by botanists, 

 and are mere speculations. I have hazarded also a 

 speculation on the embryology, so to speak, of the 

 citrus leaf, which, next to its fruit, is the most interest- 

 ing object of study. 



In Appendix, No. 62, will be found an endeavour to 

 explain why the sides of the pulp carpels are usually 

 free of juice vesicles, and in Appendix, No. 39, will be 

 found extracts from Dr. Masters' work on "Teratology,'* 

 which in many places appears to strengthen my view. 

 (Vide b, c,f, i t j, /and m of Appendix, No. 39.) 



In order that the general reader may understand 

 what I say about the morphological history of this in- 



