NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 



137 



the most part merely from chasms in the cellulat texture. 

 Hence it appears, that such interruption is not of any great 

 moment. But in so far as the cellular texture is a part of 

 the whole body, and a great regularity is observed in this 

 interrupted or uninterrupted connection, such structure be- 

 longs to the most important characters. It is as important a 

 character, that nuts and stony fruits do not burst in valves^ 

 as that the calyx of the Papavereae is deciduous. 



207. 



The uses of organs and their sensible marks, as their co- 

 lours, smell, and taste, can only be so far important in Taxo- 

 nomy, as we can thence draw conclusions respecting the in- 

 ternal structure of parts. 



IV. On the Determination of Value of Characters. 



208. V 



The determination of the value of characters, is in general 

 very simple. In this matter,' we may take it as a rule, that the 

 value of a character stands in a compound proportion to the, 

 importance of the organ, and to the point of view in which 

 we consider it. If the question relates to a single organ, the 

 characters stand in simple proportion to its variations. If the 

 question relates to a single variation, the characters are in the 

 same proportion as the importance of the organs. If we em- 

 ploy both these elements, their union may afford similar or dis- 

 similar results. Characters are similar in three cases. 1. When 

 the same variation takes place with respect to two organs of 

 the same rank in one or two functions. % When two variations 

 of the same rank take place with respect to one or two or- 

 gans also of the same rank. 3. When the degree of impor- 

 tance of an organ is correctly balanced by the value of the 

 variation. If, for instance, I compare the embryon, consider- 

 ed under its least important point of view, namely, its sensible 

 marks, with the nectary, under its most important point of 

 view, which is its existence, then \ obtain two analogous re- 



