Botany. 285 
stitute one flower, while in a Pine or Fir each ovuliferous scale, and in a 
Yew, the ovule itself would be a flower. Unwilling to accept such a con- 
clusion, which makes the ament of a Conifer in one case an inflorescence 
t, the flowers or ovules are “secundo gradu azillares.” The fem 
flower in all Conifera, accordingly, is concluded to be an ovule, and this 
is the metamorphosis of a lateral axis; while the Jeaves of a primary 
axis are metamorphosed into stamens. The latter we see frequent con- 
firmation of in monstrous catkins of Abies, where some of the subtending 
h we so : 
_ What a pity this beautiful “synthetic type” did not come to light 
1c n 
inally Dr. Eichler adopts the view of Brongniart, that the Gymno- 
sperms constitute a true natural class, intermediate between Cryptogams 
igiosperms. No new reasons are adduced in support of this view ; 
but on the whole it must be admitted that the grounds for the maintain- 
anee of Gymnosperms as a peculiar type or class grow stronger; although 
We could not say with propriety that they are intermediate between 
ter large reductions, Prof, Meisner enumerates 36 azilian species. _ 
Ax. Jour, Sci1.—Szconp Series, VOL. XXXVII, No. 110.—Maxcz, 1864, 
37 
