128 



TAXONOMY. 



its accomplishment, because the more iiLiinerous the obstacles 

 which are to be surmounted, the more powerful must be the 

 cause which overcomes them. But these difficulties may be 

 founded either in the consistence of the organs, or in their de- 

 gree of analogy. Fleshy parts are easily united. Such a junc- 

 tion is accordingly of no great importance ; and when, there- 

 fore, a capsule has sometimes the consistence of a berry, as in 

 Hypericum^ Androsamum, and Bacciferum, we are not jus- 

 tified in considering this phenomenon to be of so much con- 

 sequence that a generic distinction can be founded on it. 



The analogy of parts facilitate their junction. That si- 

 milar parts should be connected is of so little consequence, 

 that we perceive the filaments, in particular, to be connected 

 at their base innumerable times, without on that account ar> 

 ranging the plants in the Monadelphia Class. In the same 

 manner, filaments and petals, calyx and corolla, may very 

 well be united, without any great difficulties being surmount- 

 ed. But between the germen and the corolla, between the 

 corolla and the filaments, there is no particular analogy, and 

 hence we find these parts seldom united. But when they are, 

 this phenomenon is of considerable importance. In the same 

 manner we consider the junction of the calyx with the fruit, 

 and the union of the two sexual parts, as at least more im- 

 portant than the union of the nectaries with the filaments and 

 sexual parts. 



191. 



The union of different organs of fructification is the more 

 important, the more intimately it is connected with very 

 great changes in the general symmetry. This observa- 

 tion limits some of the foregoing remarks. With respect to 

 the connection between the corolla and the calyx in particu- 

 lar, this may take place in two ways. If the petals alternate 

 with the parts of the calyx, then they are commonly uni- 

 ted only at their base, and the general symmetry is not there- 

 by destroyed. But if the petals stand directly before the 

 parts of the calyx, then the junction may be complete, of 

 whicli we see a remarkable example in Sesnvium. In tliis 



