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RUDIMENTS OF THE NATURAL SYSTEM OF BOTANY. 
firmly insisted on by most botanists, and as we wish the student to examine every 
question of this kind for himself, it will be worth while to state upon what grounds 
so apparently extravagant an opinion is based. We must confess, therefore, that 
we never could discern any other foundation for this hypothesis than the fact that 
certain species, in a state of high cultivation, or, more plainly speaking, in altogether 
unnatural circumstances, develop themselves in a monstrous manner, and convert 
some of their members into a form more nearly assimilating to that from which 
they are all supposed to spring. For example, many single flowers will, when 
strongly stimulated by rich manure, have their stamens transformed into petals, 
or, in particular cases, their petals changed into common leaves. 
Let the light of pure reason, however, be brought to bear on this subject, and 
it will, we submit, be at once clear that the modifications here described are only 
departures from the universal law of Nature, owing to the plant being placed in a 
false position, and utterly unworthy of being regarded as the rule to which the 
common modes of growth are exceptions. The theory of vegetable clianges must, 
therefore, be branded by us as a thorough chimera, having no foundation in Nature, 
and merely being called into existence by what may at once be shown to be nothing 
but vagaries, dependent on artificial applications. 
To return to the consideration of stamens, so far from deeming them abortive 
leaves, we attach to them considerable interest, knowing that no species of flowering- 
plant can be multiplied by seed without a communication is in some way established 
between them and the female organs. It will be remembered by all who have 
studied the Linnasan System of classification, — and, for young beginners, we would 
recommend a short attention to that point, — that the number and situation of the 
stamens, or male parts of the flower, determine the majority of the classes. In the 
great Natural arrangement, such aids are not altogether abandoned ; but they are 
brought to their proper level, and rendered quite subordinate. More dependence 
is placed on the existence of male and female organs in the same flower, or in 
difi'erent flowers on the same plant, or in different flowers on different plants. 
"Where both the sexes are found in one flower, such a flower is named hermaphrodite ; 
and various names are given to the arrangements in which they cohere in bunches, 
or are otherwise situated with respect to each other. 
But the chief feature of importance connected with the stamens is the point at 
which they are attached to the part that supports them. If the stamens proceed 
from below the base of the ovarium, without adhering to the exterior members, 
they are called hypogynous ; and this term is invariably made use of throughout 
the descriptions of the Orders. If, again, they spring from the calyx or corolla, 
being affixed to it in any manner, they obtain the appellation of perigynous. And 
should they issue from the summit of an inferior ovary, (i. e. an ovary which has 
the whole of the flower on its apex,) they are denominated epigynous. Modern 
botanists make little distinction between the two last terms, as they assert that all 
stamens have their origin beneath the ovary. Still, that the words may be com- 
