ANOMALOUS VEGETABLE STRUCTURES. 317 



it will not be uninteresting to refer to some of its proofs afforded by- 

 anomalies, some of these common enough, others of rare occurrence. 

 There can be no proof of the nature of a synpetalous corolla equal to 

 that of our occasionally seeing it resolved into its several parts. Ob- 

 servation on the different degrees of the union in different flowers 

 will go far, but there is no resisting the sight at one time of a Convol- 

 vulusj at another of a Campanula with five distinct petals;- yet both of 

 these have occurred to myself, as well as various incidental connections 

 in the foliage. Among the latter, one deserving of notice occurred in 

 a coherence of two leaves, normally alternate, but in this case becom- 

 ing opposite, of Polygonatium multiflorum (the common Solomon's 

 seal) which together formed a sort of bag around the stem, so check- 

 ing the further growth that only a feeble shoot protruded at the narrow 

 opening, a bent and contracted portion being easily traced within the 

 bag. Another instance may admit of useful application. It occurred 

 in the common tulip, the usual leaf on the stem cohering by its edges 

 so as to envelope the flower completely. With the progress of growth 

 the force of vegetation directed upward burst the enveloping leaf as 

 completely as if it hadbeenhorizontally cut by artificial means, carrying 

 with it the upper portion like an extinguisher over the flower, and 

 leaving the lower as a cup-shaped leaf surrounding the stem. Whether 

 the upper piece would have stifled the flower, or the latter would have 

 finally burst it open and thrown it off cannot be known, as I was so 

 fortunate as in this condition to obtain possession of the specimen. It 

 beautifully illustrated the nature of the calyx of Eschscholtzia, in which 

 it is a union of two sepals, and in Eucalyptus in which it is composed 

 of jive ; it explains likewise, the calyptra of mosses, and perhaps the 

 opening of the fruit in Anagallis and Lecythis. Its application in the 

 latter case depends on the assumption that the central column retains 

 its power of progressive growth after the outer wall of the capsule 

 which has the calyx adherent on the carpels has lost it. In this case 

 the force of vegetation must produce a horizontal separation exactly 

 in the place where it actually occurs. 



I shall only add one other illustration at present. It is received as 

 a principle, that though modified in particular instances, by effect of 

 pressure or irregularity, the number three prevails in the circles of 

 parts of monocotyledonous or endogenous plants ; five in those of 

 dicotyledonous or exogenous plants. Som^e learned botanists contend 

 that the monocotyledonous structure proceeds from a single plant 

 element (named a phyton), whilst two of these are combined in the 

 dycotyledonous structure. Assuming this view, which is highly rea- 



