PHANEROGAMIA : FLOWERS. 



371 



formed simultaneously with, often even earlier than, the outer envelopes 

 of the flower, that in the border of the most distinctly formed germen 

 originate by degrees the succeeding envelopes, stamens, and carpels ; 

 that the last, in particular, are frequently not formed until the germen 

 is quite perfect, and even the seed-buds present in it in a rudimentary 

 condition. For those, therefore, who have traced but a few develop- 

 ments in nature, there can be no doubt here, that the entire inferior 

 germen is developed from a cup-shaped axis. In exactly the same man- 

 ner, any one may attain conviction that the style, in the true Gynandria, 

 the Orchidacece, Aristolochiacece, and Stylidiacece, is equally an axial 

 structure. For if it be recalled to mind that in the disc and cup-shaped 

 axes, the upper or inner surface is the organically higher part, and the 

 centre of the disc the highest point of the axis, it becomes easy to refer 

 those abnormal phenomena to well-known and commonplace structures. 

 In the Onagracece, for instance (fig. 216.), the entire outer surface of the 

 cavity of the germen (a 6), and the so-called tube of the calyx up to 

 the free lobes (b c\ correspond to the pedicel : next follow the inter- 

 nodes between calyx and stamens, which are not elongated ; the inner 

 surface of the so-called tube of the calyx up to the style corresponds to 

 the internode between stamens and carpels, which is elongated, as in 

 some degree in Cleome: lastly, the inner surface of the cavity of the 

 germen corresponds to an elongated axial structure contained within 

 the carpels, therefore to the so called spermophorum centrale liberum. 

 In Orchis (fig. 217.), Aristolochia, and Stylidium, the external surface 



2] 6 



217 



* See Plate III. figs. 18 22., with the explanation. 



810 Godetia Lehmanniana. Longitudinal section of the flower. The shaded portion 

 is the axial organ, and from a to & the inferior germen (fig. 215.); from b to c, the 

 superior cup-shaped disc (fig. 211.). This superior disc exhibits projections and orna- 

 mental markings, which are developed exactly in the same way, only in a less degree, 

 as on the inferior disc of Passi flora. (See Plate IV.) 



817 Epipactis lati folia. Longitudinal section of the flower, n, Outer, ft, inner peri- 



BB 2 



