301 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



minerals, to complications of causes, each of which, 

 considered individually, would produce a regular effect ? 

 Those who believe most in the normal regularity of 

 organized bodies have perceived that it cannot be sub- 

 mitted to the same laws as that of minerals, &c. ; that 

 in particular no truly geometrical regularity is met with 

 in them ; but, although it is, perhaps, impossible to find 

 a flower with all its petals geometrically equal, or a leaf 

 with its two sides mathematically alike, it cannot be 

 denied that, even upon the most superficial examination, 

 we are not struck with the kind of regularity of these 

 organs. The name of Symmetry has been given to this 

 ungeometrical regularity of organized bodies. That 

 these, particularly vegetables, present a multitude of 

 examples of exact symmetry, is what no one can deny ; 

 and to these the name of regular bodies has been given, 

 to point out the fact, without pretending to compare 

 this regular symmetry or this regularity with the geo- 

 metrical order of crystals. But it cannot be denied that 

 in certain rather numerous cases the symmetry appears 

 deranged; does this symmetry any longer exist in the 

 cases of irregularity? or can this apparent derange- 

 ment of it be produced by regular causes ? 



Even to the present day, the first of these opinions 

 has been held ; all the irregulai'ities of plants and ani- 

 mals have been described, without its being thought that 

 they conceal an order submitted to general laws. Each 

 unusual form of an organ received a new name, and it 

 became impossible to recognize their analogy with one 

 another. Each unusual form of a body was considered 

 either as a monstrosity if it were rare, (and the old bota- 

 nists were contented with this unmeaning word to dis- 

 pense with the study of it,) or as a distinct species, if the 

 phenomenon were frequent, and thus all correct means 

 of distinguishing organs were lost. They could not even 



