NAT. ORDER. ORCHIDE^. 
71 
the ovarium by a distinct open canal ; the impregnation takes 
effect by the absorption from the pollen-masses, through the gland 
into the stigmatic canal ; capsule inferior, bursting, with three 
valves and three ribs, very rarely bacate ; the seeds are parietal 
and numerous ; the testa is loose, reticulated, and contracted at 
each end ; there is no albumen ; the embryo is a solid, undivided, 
fleshy mass ; the roots are fleshy and hard ; the leaves are simple, 
and quite entire, and often articulated with the stem ; Jloioers, 
solitary. 
We do not deem it necessary, in this place, to enter into an 
historical inquiry as to the gradual alteration which has from time 
to time taken place in the opinions of different botanists, with re- 
gard to the structure of the gynandrous apparatus of these most 
curious plants, or to explain what degree of error has heretofore 
existed in the descriptions of those who mistook masses of pollen 
for anthers, or a column of stamens for a style. Such errors could 
only have occurred at a period when the laws of organization 
were totally unknown : but they have now been corrected, and 
described in a more perfect manner, by different writers. But 
long before the publication of any rational explanation of the 
structure of this most beautiful family of plants, while botanists 
were in utter darkness upon the subject, it was most fully inves- 
tigated by a gentleman, unrivalled for the pei-fection of his micro- 
scopical analysis, the beauty of his drawings, and the admirable 
skill with which he follows nature in her most secret workings ; the 
sketches of which we have before us, were executed from the year 
1794 to 1807, in which, not only that which has been published 
since that period is shown in the most distinct and satisfactory 
manner, but in which more is represented than botanists are even 
now aware of By these means we hope to be able to give some 
of those extraordinary productions of the pencil to the world, 
in an illustration of this curious family of plants, and which is now 
in preparation. If the gynandrous apparatus of an Orchideous 
