16 RELATION OF PHYLLOTAXIS TO MECHANICAL LAWS. 



would be inappreciable. The objection to Schwendener's theory is 

 then, that it superimposes a second doubtful hypothesis on the 

 original unsatisfactory one of Schimper and Braun. On the other 

 hand, if the subject can be dealt with ah initio from a new stand- 

 point, it is not necessary to discuss the details of the conflicting 

 observations of Schwendener and Schumann. 



In the present paper an attempt will be made to base all deduc- 

 tions on a single hypothesis, the mathematical proposition for uni- 

 form growth, as that of a mechanical system in which equal distribu- 

 tion of energy follows definite paths which may be studied by 

 means of geometrical constructions. 



