SUPPLEMENTARY OBSERVATIONS, &c. a 



ORCHIDE^. 



In the observations appended to my Paper on these two 

 Natural Families, printed in the 16th Volume of the 

 ' Linnean Society's Transactions,' and which relate entirely 

 to Orchidese, it is stated, that in several species of Ophrydese 

 the Tubes, produced either directly from the grains of Pollen, 

 or in consequence of their application to the Stigma, were 

 found spread over the surface of the Placentae, and not 

 unfrequently inserted into the aperture of the Ovula. The 

 correctness of this statement I have confirmed, during the 

 present season, by mimerous observations, not only on the 

 same, but also on several other species. Another remark- 

 able appearance observed in some of these species, espe- 

 cially in Orchis ustulata, fusca, Morio, and in Oplirys 

 apifera, and which indeed I had before met with, 

 but neglected to mention in my Paper, consists in the 

 elongation and protrusion of the jointed or cellular filament 

 connecting the upper extremity of the Embryo with that 

 of the original nucleus (the Tercine of M. Mirbel). 



The Filament so protruded often equals the whole Ovulum 

 in length, and its elongation seems to depend not only on 

 the enlargement of each of the cells or joints, of which the 

 included thread consists, but also on the production of addi- 

 tional joints. 



As, however, the Pollen tube is found applied to the 

 aperture of the Ovulum uniformly before either the 

 Embryo or its thread is distinguishable, and as I have 



