SEEDS AND FRUITS 181 



before any of them, which are lost. For while the 

 plant may repeat a part of its ancient history, we 

 cannot be quite sure that it has recounted all of 

 it. In fact, it would be almost impossible for it to 

 do so. In the instance of the pea, the bracts or 

 first leaves may be simply the bases of incomj^lete 

 organs and may not represent the lamina at all. 



