264 On Azolla and Salvinia. 



ing recognised. The capsules constitute his calyx; those 

 containing the indefinite mass-containing secondary capsules 

 being his male flowers. Their pedicels are the filaments ; 

 the capsules themselves his anthers. The other capsules 

 are the females ; their secondary capsules are his germina, 

 and the analogy is carried so far as to suppose, though with 

 some doubt, the existence of a stigma. The germina become 

 the seeds, though the pericarpium is stated to be present ! 



It is stated in a note, that the above males and females are 

 distinguishable even in the dried plants by the size of the 

 grains they contain. The male-flowers are described as 

 glomeruled round a central solitary female. 



Willdenow* after quoting Schreber, describes the capsules 

 as composed of imbricated connate indusia. The diffbrmity 

 of their contents is passed over entirely. The capsules are 

 descrfbed for seeds ! 



Lamarkf appears to have entertained still another view, for 

 in his generic character, (o. c. p. 484,) the stamina are stated 

 to be situated on the capsules, which are said to be in pairs. In 

 his description of S. natans no mention is made of any dif- 

 formity in the contents of the capsules, nor is it to be gather- 

 ed from his remarks on any of the other species in the Sup- 

 plement, that he was aware of it. The figures C. D., however, 

 of the Illustrations obviously represent the two forms of the 

 mature organs. 



In the Flore Francaise of Lamark and Decandolle,J the 

 same views are entertained as in the Encyclopedic 



In the Dictionaire des Sciences Naturelles,§ the same opi- 

 nions are adhered to, and it is to be gathered from it, that 

 the hairs on the capsules are the stamina of Lamark. 



Sprengel,|| describes the capsules as receptacles, the se- 

 condary capsules as sporangia. He is also silent regarding 

 the important point of their dissimilarity. 



* Sp. PI. 5, pt. 2, p. 536, No. 1985. t Enc. Meth. Jllustr. PL 863. 



J 2, p. 579. § 47, p. 149. j| Gen. PI. p. 716, No. 3603. 



