350 _ BOTANICAL GAZETTE [May 
Some botanists might prefer to put the Plantaginales under 
the Tubiflore, but in that case, on account of the upturned 
micropyle, they would form a special subsection near the Bor- 
ragininee. Ihave placed them next the Tubiflore as an inde- 
pendent series. 
The epigynous Rubiales and Campanulata form naturally 
the close of the Sympetale. ‘In both series we find actinomor- 
phy and capsules with numerous ovules; in both series the fur- 
ther stages of zygomorphy and reduction are reached. 
In the series Rubiales, to which, following Fritsch and Hoeck, 
I have added the Valerianacee and Dipsacacee, I do not regard 
division into subseries as necessary. Both the families just 
named join quite closely to the Caprifoliacee. We can only 
venture to offer a special subseries for the peculiar Adoxace®. 
In the Campanulate, on the contrary, the Cucurbitacee 
occupy a special place, and form the subseries Cucurbitinee. 
The Campanulacez must be regarded as the remnant of a trunk 
from which the others have branched out. That the Compo> 
ita occupy the last place in the system can scarcely any longer 
be doubted. 
It is evident that the several series are independent form- 
groups which have developed mostly side by side, but not ones 
one another. In only a few cases do the series stand so a 
together that a common origin must be supposed. The — 
true also of the subseries and of the families within the su 
series. Even within the families themselves it is mostly oe 
possible to determine a common starting point for the eee 
lies. In spite of all the uncertainty that prevails credit 
origin of series, it is absolutely certain that parallel x 2 
opment has very often taken place, and the view that . 
development of the siphonogams from the ocsaitaet oe 
great number of parallel series came into existence If dico- 
beginning seems tenable. The oldest monocot 
tyledons, like the living conifers and other gymno 
sessed no floral envelope, but an indefinite numbe ‘hin 
and carpels, which were either spiral oF whorled W! 
