PHANEROGAMIA : FLOWERS. 297 



once morphologically and physiologically determinate, two sexes (sexus). 

 But these have no definite relation to each other in space; this or that 

 leaf may be transformed into a stamen, this or that axis into a seed-bud, 

 on any individual plant. It is not inconceivable that we may yet dis- 

 cover a plant in which, without any apparent arrangement, here some- 

 times only a stamen, there sometimes only a common terminal bud, is de- 

 veloped into a seed-bud. But Nature seeks gradually to unite the two 

 parts continually closer, and thus we obtain, on a general survey, the 

 following stages of development in the Phanerogamia. 



1. Isolated stamens and seed-buds, at first in different individuals, 

 then united in one individual, constituting in their forms the gradual 

 transition from the Cryptogamia to the Phanerogamia, become finally 

 united in great numbers upon one axis. With exception of the very 

 simplest, yet to be discovered case, we have this in the Cycadacece, Coni- 



ferce, and Loranthacece. < 



2. Inflorescences of this kind, in the simplest form, become sur- 

 rounded by a foliar organ of a peculiar form (spathe), and at the same 

 time the seed-buds become enclosed in a peculiar case (the germen in 

 Lemnacece). Gradually, at first through the position, then through the 

 addition of bracts (?) groups of stamens become collected around the 

 germen (Aracece, Naiadacce, Qrontiacece). 



3. A circle of definitely modified foliar organs, encloses as floral 

 envelopes, the stamens or germens into monosexual flowers (Hydrocha- 

 ridece], or finally both into hermaphrodite flowers (Liliacece). 



4. Now succeeds the development of the complete flower into the 

 greatest multiplicity of combinations of the different parts and their 

 forms, in a great number of Mono- and Di- cotyledonous families. 



5. The single flowers approach closer together in the manifold forms 

 of the infloresence, in many other families. 



6. Finally, the entire inflorescences contract so closely, and into such a 

 limited form, that they again appear like one simple whole ; the so-called 

 compound flowers, the highest stage of development of Phanerogamic 

 structure, on one side rising according to the Monocotyledonous type 

 through the Palms ^to the Grasses, on the other, according to the Di- 

 cotyledonous type, preceded by the inflorescence partly of the Umbel- 

 liferce, partly of the Leguminosce, to the Composites. 



Thus we receive the impression of an incessant gathering of a greater 

 number of individual parts, under continually closer morphological con- 

 nection, into a unity, and of an unbroken series of gradually increasing 

 complications of fundamental organs, which are naturally divided ac- 

 cording to their principal stages, into imperfect flower, flower, inflores- 

 cence, and compound flower. But this is merely the aesthetic conception 

 which gives us the idea of Nature working like a human being, according 

 to a certain plan, and continually concentrating this. In the scientific 

 treatment of the matter we require very different and more accurate limit- 

 ations, of the definitions, in which no transitions, confusing the distinc- 

 tions, are possible. 



It does not seem to me that hitherto much pains have been taken about 

 the accurate perception of the definition of a flower, or that we have 

 been very fortunate in the discovery of the correct expression. Ac- 

 cording to most definitions yet given, it would be rather difficult to 

 distinguish between flower and inflorescence. Kunth, in his Botany, 

 speaks of the flower, without anywhere saying what this may be, 

 wherein its essential characters consist, and what are the limits of 

 the definition of it. Bischoflf does the same, in his Botany. 



