104 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



being formed (as it were) of the lamina of the leaf doubled up, so 

 as to have the lateral margins united in their whole lengths, the 

 upper surface of the leaf forming the inner surface of the germen. 

 The stigma is thus formed of the extremity of the midrib, and the 

 style, of its prolongation. 



In most cases the ovarial leaf is sessile, but in some instances, 

 ("Gentiana") the petiole exists in the form of a stalk (Gynophore) 

 to the germen. In thus briefly describing the relationship of the 

 floral organs to each other, and to the leaf, it may be proper to 

 observe, however, that the proof is founded 1st, on the insensible 

 transitions of the organs; 2nd, on their reversion to the state of 

 leaves; 3rd, on their mutual substitution; and 4th, on the perfect 

 similarity of the laws which determine their situation and varied 

 combinations. The flowers of " Nymphcea" afford an example of the 

 first order of reasons, viz., insensible transitions. The sepals differ- 

 ing but little from the petals, and the petals passing insensibly into 

 stamens, no line of demarcation can be pointed out where the for- 

 mer terminate, or the latter commence. In the outermost series, 

 we observe the broad, ovate, perfect petals, which in the succeed- 

 ing series become more and more contracted, having at first small 

 imperfect anthers in their margins at the apex, separated by a suc- 

 cessively diminishing portion of the true petaloid lamina. The 

 contraction of the lamina of the petals continues as we proceed 

 towards the centre of the flower, until the innermost series of pis- 

 tils are found to have become merely flattened filaments, to what 

 are now perfect stamens; the progressive enlargement of the 

 anther cases, and their mutual approximation having kept pace 

 with the contraction and diminution of the petaloid lamina. I 

 have chosen to preface the description of these petaloid stamens by 

 a reference to the other organs of the flower, and to the leaf, in 

 order to point out more plainly the importance of the peculiar 

 structure of the petals and stamens; which otherwise would appear 

 merely as an interesting but isolated fact. All knowledge is rela- 

 tive, and it becomes useful only in proportion to our capability of 

 associating and combining the disjunct parts of the perfect whole. 



