I 1 i R0D1 CTION. 



2. All modification! of either are respectively important, in 

 to their connection with tli" phenomena of life. 



.",. I f u e allow oui aided by tl. 



ball find that the internal or anatomical structure of the 

 tin- : of more importance than any other character; 



. are the circumstances which essentially 



trrowth. and the ven existence of an individual. 



•1. Thai next in order is the internal structure of 1 1 1 * • Beed, by which the 

 species musl be multiplied. Thus th fanembryi 



rst indicating a true seed, the latter a are ni< utial cir- 



cumstances to consider. And so also the existence of albumen in abund 

 round the embryo, or it- absence, musl be regarded as a physiolofi 

 character of the highest value : because, in the form* 

 demands a spi cial external provisiou for its early nutrin in ovipi 



animals ; while, in the latter case, the embryo is capal 



if the powei snt in itself, and unassisted, as in vivipa 



animals. 



.' . >.'. m to this musl be taken the structure of the* offructifi 



bose united action the s 1 is engendered ; for without s< tain, 



uniform, and invariable action on their part, the race of a plant must 

 extinct. Thus we find that the structure of the anthers, pi . and 



ovules, are more uniform than that of the parts surrounding them, while 

 their numbers are variable ; and the condition of the filament, which aj p 



• little importance in a physiological point of view, is also incoi stant. 

 So also the texture and surface and form of tl arp, which a< 



mere covering to the seeds, is not to 1"' regarded in these inquiries, and, in 

 fact, differs from genus to genus : as, for instance, between Pyrus and 

 Strain av-ia, or Rubus and Spiraea, in the truly natural Rosaceous Order. 



6. On the other hand, the floral envelopes seem to be ui ted with 

 functions of a high order, and to be designed rather for the decoration of 

 plants, or for the purpose of giving variety to the aspeel of the vegetable 

 world : and. consequently, their number, form, and condition, pr< 

 absence, regularity or irregularity, are of low and doubtful valu< . 



for specific distinction. Thi as, indeed, reason to expect that ■ 



Natural Order will, Booner or later, he found to contain within itself all the 

 variations above alluded to. Even in the of regularity and irregularity 



we already know this to be so : witness \ eronica and Scoparia in I 

 and Hyoscyamus in Nightshades, Delphinium in Crowfoots, and Pelo 

 niuin in Crane-hills. 



7. The consolidation of the parts of fructification is a circui but 

 little attended t«p in a general point of view, except in n 



hut as it Beems to indicate either the greatest change that tl 



undergo, or, where it occurs between important and usually unii 



organs, that in such cas< - the latter become essential to tl 



babh deserves to be regarded with treat attention. For , th<> 



presence or absence of the corolla is often a point of little moment, 



we know, a very fluctuating circumstance. This is 



Natural Orders in which the stamens and |>etal> are si paral 



worts, Rhamnads, Onagrads, «kc. On the other hand, wl 



which arc indispensable organs, adhere to the petals, th 



constantly present, as in Figworts, Acanthads, Nightshadi 



There are also certain other principles which experienc< t 

 systematist must keep in view ; and most < specially that of regardii 



