104 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



among these there is but a small number abortive, and 

 there remain at least two complete ones, the pistil still 

 presents the appearance of regularity if considered with 

 regard to itself; but it appears irregular when compared 

 with the number of the other parts of the flower. Thus, 

 the Cistineffi, which have five sepals, five petals, and five 

 carpels, are regular ; those which, as Helianthemum, 

 with the same floral numbers have but three carpels, 

 have the fruit intrinsically regular, but relatively irre- 

 gular. When the number of carpels is reduced by 

 abortion to one, this one always presents traces of irre- 

 gularity ; thus, when it has several seeds, they adhere 

 laterally on the side nearest the axis of the flower, as is 

 jilainly seen in the Leguminosas. It is remarked, that 

 when these plants have accidentally several carpels, i. e. 

 when the abortion is less complete, the second, when it 

 exists, is situated precisely opposite the first, having the 

 seminiferous suture also directed towards the centre, so 

 that a regular fruit is the result ; I have observed this in 

 Gleditsia. The drupaceous Rosacea? (Amygdalaceae) 

 also have a single carpel by abortion ; and we find 

 Cherries and Plums which have accidentally either two 

 carpels united, or several free. Auguste de Saint-Hi- 

 laire found in Brazil a Mimosa with five carpels ; and 

 when we compare the structure of the Leguminosa?, thus 

 considered, with the Spiraeaceae among the Rosacea?, we 

 shall perceive that these two families hardly differ more 

 than in the abortion of the carpels being frequent in the 

 Leguminosas, and rare in the Rosacea?. 



In carpels which appear to have but one seed, the 

 irregularity is visible in two respects : — 1st, It is almost 

 certain that the seeds are only solitary by the more or 

 less early abortion of one of the ovules ; — 2d, From the 

 manner in which the seed is situated, there must be some 

 irregularity in the carpel. Is it attached laterally, as in 



