126 MORPHOLOGY. 



most recent times, and yet very imperfectly, that the importance oi the 

 study of the history of development has been acknowledged ; although, 

 without this, Botany would be wholly divested of all scientific principle. 

 This deficiency renders it impossible as yet to treat morphology with 

 scientific logical development, or in accordance with a perfectly systema- 

 tic mode of arrangement, as will but too obviously appear in my manner 

 of treating this subject, although the blame of this is only partially to be 

 imputed to me. It seems, however, practicable perfectly to state the 

 problem, and to this end I subjoin the following remarks. 



We have to construct the laws of morphological formation, and to 

 delineate the forms themselves. The first remains for the present a mere 

 problem, the solution of which must be reserved for succeeding times. 

 The second may be accomplished, although imperfectly. I say imper- 

 fectly, because, instead of those complete series of development of which 

 we ought alone to treat, we only know a few individual conditions ; and, 

 therefore, the greatest portion of the task still lies unperformed before 

 us. Here we must again distinguish between 1. Series of forms which 

 occur in all or in very many plants of a very different nature, and may, 

 therefore, especially serve as the foundation of the study of vegetable 

 forms ; that is, " general morphology." 2. Series of forms which are only 

 peculiar to definite groups of plants : " special or comparative mor- 

 phology." These two would further branch off into the consideration of 

 form without reference to its composition from the different forms of the 

 elementary organs, " external morphology ;" and into the consideration 

 of the manner in which forms are composed from individual tissues, 

 " internal morphology " (the theory of structure " comparative 

 anatomy"). This last part falls, however, away from general mor- 

 phology ; for all that we can, for the present at least, say is, that every 

 plant is composed of the different forms of the elementary organs which 

 have already been treated of. Even with respect to the second part, 

 in regard to comparative morphology, it appears to me unadvisable 

 to divide the two sections, on account of our deficiency of material ; 

 I shall, therefore, in the examination of the individual groups and parts 

 of plants, subjoin all that is known concerning their structure. 



CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. 



66. THE forms of individuals and their parts are the special 

 objects to be considered by Morphology. 



I. In scientific Botany we have to consider the separate cells, 

 and, according to the empirical conception, plants, as individual 

 organisms. In the latter relation we find individuals of different 

 orders. The elementary organs combine to constitute definite 

 forms (a simple plant, planta simplex). New and like individuals 

 (buds, gcmmcB) are formed by development upon the plant, and 



