ined with a microscope of moderate power, may be found ten bundles 
of what is termed woody fibre, surrounding some very delicate spiral 
vessels. When the flower is carefully examined, the calyx or cup is 
observed to consist of five leaves, partially united, the corolla also 
consists of five leaves, while the stamens amount to ten; but the pistil, 
which when ripe forms the pod, consists of only one leaf, by the sup- 
pression of the four requisite to complete the normal number. Such 
also is the case with the pea (Pisum sativum), and the lentil (Ervum 
lens). The primrose has five bundles near the base of the stem; in it the 
stamens are five, while the pistil, originating in five leaves, ultimately 
becomes a one-celled capsule. These are all exogenous plants, which 
conform to the rule predominating in that type of organization. The 
Tropzolum majus (Nasturtium, or Indian-cress) departs from it by 
having eight stamens, yet at the base of its stem eight bundles of 
woody fibre exist. So again, the Salvia sclarea (Herb-clary) has 
only two tae and the number of bundles near the base does not 
exceed tw 
The ne number of endogenous plants shew a like pape: 
dence; not that the figures absolutely agree, but that they have 
datitiite ratio, One of the most remarkable of endogenous plants in 
respect of the numerical relations of the flower, is the Paris quadri- 
folia (Herb Paris), which has eight stamens, four styles, and on the 
stem four leaves; the number of bundles of fibres is twelve, in two 
distinct rows, the inner of four, and the outer of eight. It would appear 
as if the outer circle constituted the rudiments of the eight stamens, 
while the inner one furnished the type of the four styles. Nor is this 
the only point worthy of notice, as the stem possesses a sort of quadran- 
gular form 
n the number of bundles of wood is based the mathematical prin- 
ciple which displays itself in the numerical proportion and relations of 
all parts of the plant, more particularly in the number of leaves on the 
stem, which constitutes a spire or helix, and also of the number of — 
parts which will be found to constitute the various whorls of the flower. 
Nothing is more interesting than, from the mere examination of the 
position of the leaves on the stem, and ascertaining (beginning with 
the lowest, and reckoning upwards in a spiral direction, till one leaf 
be found placed perpendicularly over the leaf where the notation com- 
menced,) the number of leaves embraced in this spiral ascent, to 
determine what will be the number of parts constituting the whorls of 
the calyx, corolla, and stamens of the flower, long before it makes its 
appearance, and unfolds these various organs. The converse of the 
proposition also holds, since it is as practicable, by inspecting any 
given flower, to determine what number of leaves formed a spire on 
