CHAP, v.] RELATIONSHIP AMONGST PLANTS. 161 



of the stem, not appearing simultaneously but in suc- 

 cession. In many flowers well-developed internodes 

 are present between the respective whorls. The advan- 

 tages of concentration of the parts of a flower are 

 obvious. The sepals form a whorl that overlaps and 

 protects every internal part until ready to expand. The 

 concentration of the petals, in which the attractive fea- 

 ture of colour resides, makes the flower conspicuous at 

 a distance to an insect on the wing ; finally, during the 

 early self- fertilizing epoch the concentration of the 

 stamens in the immediate vicinity of the stigma was 

 imperative, and even when the self-fertilization method 

 was gradually superseded by that of cross- fertilization, 

 the various contrivances for preventing self-fertilization 

 did not necessitate the removal of the stamens from the 

 position occupied during the earlier condition of things. 

 Throughout the Vegetable Kingdom, and in connection 

 with every function, there is a decided stand against 

 radical and abrupt changes, in spite of, as one may 

 be allowed to express it, obvious advantages ; but at the 

 same time no impediment is placed in the way of modifi- 

 cations ; traits which, if manifested by ourselves, would 

 indicate a lukewarm confidence in the proposed change, 

 coupled with a determination not to completely forsake 

 an old tried method until the new idea had fully proved 

 its superiority. 



Returning to the general build of a typical flower, we 

 meet with in early types, four whorls or verticils of 

 organs, calyx, corolla, stamens, and carpels, developed 

 in acropetal succession, the calyx being the oldest 

 whorl and consequently lowest down on the branch or 

 axis of the flower, and the carpels the youngest and 



M 



