562 ON THE RELATIVE POSITIOK OF 



derived from the very remarkable dehiscence of the capsule 

 into six valves. But I have elsewhere pointed out cases 

 w^here an analogous dehiscence occurs, in which, however, a 

 similar composition has never been supposed to exist : and 

 if the presence of six vascular cords in sections of the ova- 

 rium be likewise adduced in favour of the opinion, I may 

 add that I have in the same place remarked that these 

 vascular bundles belong not to the ovarium only, but also 

 to the perianthium and stamina, and are equally observable 

 in other families with adherent ovarium, as Iridea, in which 

 a similar composition has never been inferred. 



With regard to the second family, in which Mr. Lindley 

 believes the disk of the carpel to be ovuliferous, namely, 

 Orohanchece, I find no other argument advanced in support 

 of this view than that derived from the bursting of the 

 capsule into two lateral valves ; but an opinion founded on 

 dehiscence only may be said to be a mere begging of the 

 question ; division through the axis of carpels, especially in 

 the families related to Orobanchecs, being nearly as common 

 as separation of their margins. In this family also, as in 

 Orchidem, the placentae are double, an argument in favour 

 of their submarginal origin : and although, whether the 

 carpels be regarded as lateral, or anterior and posterior, the 

 placentae are not strictly marginal, yet there are other fami- 

 lies where a similar position of placentae is found, but in 

 which the structure assumed in this hypothesis has never 

 been suspected. As to the supposed affinity of Orobanche<B 

 with GentianecB, which might be adduced in support of this 

 view, as far as it is founded on the assumed agreement of 

 the two orders in the lateral position of their carpels, the 

 argument, even if correct, would hardly be conclusive ; for 

 in GentianecB there is at least one genus having quadrifid 

 and another with quinquefid flowers, in which the carpels are 

 112] not lateral, but anterior and posterior, as I believe them 

 to be in Orohanchece ; nor has it ever been supposed that 

 in GentianecB the disk or axis is ovuliferous. 



In the account now given of the modifications of ovarium 

 and stigma, I have, in conformity with the ordinary language 

 of botanists, employed the term confluence, by which, how- 



