THE PRIMORDIA 



55 



All the mentioned groups of primordia are set out in order in 

 the following table : — 



Classification of the Primordia {Simple Properties) according 

 to their Development ^ 



Primordia 



original 

 metamorphic 

 ? awakening 



/persistent 

 to 



/persistent 



\caducous (or deciduous) 



/persistent 



\caducous (or deciduous) 



(arres ed \ caducous (or deciduous) 



transitory 

 r arrested 

 (transitory 

 f arrested 

 (transitory 



§ 47.— CLASSIFICATION OF THE PRIMORDIA WITH 

 REFERENCE TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT [continued). 

 EXAMPLES —FIRST EXAMPLE : In § i6 I have mentioned 

 a subspecies of Primula sinensis the corolla of which is red at 

 ordinary temperature and white if the plant is cultivated at a 

 temperature of about 30°. In this corolla (limiting ourselves 

 to the limb) we observe the primordia length and breadth, which 

 are both original, arrested and persistent. During the first 

 period of its development the corolla is white ^ : it contains 

 very probably a chromogen, which is transformed at ordinary 

 temperature into a red substance. The intensity of the red 

 colour increases gradually tUl a maximum is reached. The 

 property white is original and transitory ; the property red is 

 metamorphic, arrested and persistent. 



If we look upon the primordia white and red as being two 

 terms of one series, we see that three properties white-red, length 

 and breadth foUow in their development three separate lines 

 (the velocity of increase of length and breadth is not the same). 

 Along each of these lines the value of the corresponding 

 property is continually var3dng, the variation of each property 

 being governed by a pecuUar law. At a given moment, for 

 instance, after n hours, a certain combination of values is found 

 to exist ; after 2w hours a new combination is observed, etc. 

 The so-called adult state corresponds to a certain combination. 

 In other words, there exists a certain harmony ^ between the 

 three properties with regard to the progress of their develop- 

 ment. The above facts may be brought into the form of 



1 On accrescent properties, see § 47, second example. 



' It may be that the young corolla contains chlorophyl at a certain moment. 

 This is of no importance for the subject under consideration. 



' The term harmony is used here in the meaning in which it was used by 

 LEIBNITZ, the author of Monadologia and Hmmoniapresstabilita. LEIBNITZ 

 was a mathematician. 



