118 
der Entwicklung ein durch gewisse Eigenschaften oder Dominanten 
charakterisierter Typus gelangen kann, d. h. welcher Progressionen 
er fahig ist. 
From this we see that his affinity - group is one that is determined only in so 
far as it accords with one view of “certain characters.” But, we shall see 
quite different affinity - groups established, as I have before stated, when viewed 
from different standpoints. Then he remarks :— 
Wir erkennen hierbei, da8 vielfach parallele Entwicklungsreihen auftre- 
ten und dag man sich hiiten muf, die Parallelercheinungen mit den eine Sippe charak- 
terisierenden Erscheinungen auf gleiche Stufe zu setzen. 
In the above quotation, he states that characters of plants observed in the 
present vegetable world are referable to two different categories, namely :—1, 
those denoting parallel advancement in different series or classes; 2, those 
denoting to what series they belong”. In my estimation, it is impossible to 
regard different characters as necessarily and decidedly denoting such different 
meanings. In my opinion, there can be no such absolute difference between 
the characters. ENciER’s statement is only for convenience. Even if we 
admit the two kinds of characters for convenience’ sake, they are not peculiar 
(proper) to themselves but are interchangeable. If characters, regarded by 
ENGLER as representing those of the first category, are taken by another 
author as those of the second, the other characters regarded by ENGLER as 
those of the second should, in their turn, be taken by the other author as 
those of the first category. In fine, to ascribe different chararters to the two 
different categories is a mere expedient to furnish arguments for a system 
established on the assumption of phylogeny. Now, let us consider the matter 
by examples. According to EENGLER’s system, such characters of the Um- 
belliflorze, as valvate sstivation, a reduced calyx, androeceum consisting of one 
whorl of five stamens, two-celled ovary with a few ovules, are all regarded 
as belonging to the first category, since the same characters are found in the 
Rubiales ; while such a character of the Umbelliflores as that represented by 
polypetalous flowers is regarded as of the second category, as a character of 
the Rubiales represented by gamopetalous flowers is likewise treated. In other 
1) Characters of this second category show the blood connection within a group, but not 
between groups. 
