THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
VoL. xvi.—DECEMBER, 1883.—No. 12. 
DEVELOPMENT OF A DANDELION FLOWER? 
BY PROFESSOR JOHN M. COULTER. 
PrE are several reasons why the organogeny of flowers 
should be carefully studied, not the least of which is, that 
it reveals genetic relationships and could be made to read the 
riddle of many a puzzling affinity. This paper is based upon 
Some very careful observations made during the present year, 
undertaken especially for the purpose of investigating the devel- 
opment of an inferior ovary, of syngenesious anthers, and of 
obtaining any possible evidence in reference to any of the con- 
tending theories of the morphology of the ovule. It is not the 
intention to discuss the various relationships indicated by the dif- 
ferent phases in the development of the dandelion flower, though 
that might help determine relative rank, for this would necessi- 
tate a wider range of observation than the subject has received 
_ ny one, but simply to give an illustration of such work and 
to indicate what this specific case teaches with reference to the 
ee subjects just mentioned. 
Embry ology assures ‘us that the most essential characters make 
ner appearance first, and that the order of development is fiom 
: Seneral to specific. If such a law can find its application in ‘the 
4 development of a flower, there can be no deeper-seated — 
“a tion betwee groups of flowers than that of inferior or superior 
L D Dr it is the very first character to make its appearance. Of 
Po tie embryology of the plant begins far back of the flower, 
m the seed, where the development of one or two cotyledons 1n- 
Bra Probably the first natural division of seed-bearing plants. 
Read in Section F of the A. A. A. S. at Minneapolis, Aug, 1883. : 
VOL. Xy no, XII, 80 
