366 
goethe’s essay on the metamorphosis of plants. 
great acuteness and penetration of this extraordinary man, who, without being able to give 
a satisfactory explanation of these organs, relied on a mere presentiment in venturing to 
give one collective name to all these apparently heterogeneous organs. 
53. Several petals show us their affinity with stamens, by bearing, without being visibly 
altered in their shape, glandular bodies, which exude a honey-like fluid. That this fluid 
appears to be an indigested, not quite elaborated fecundating fluid, we might feel inclined 
to think, from the reasons already mentioned ; and this supposition will become much 
more probable by other reasons, which will be found in the following paragraphs. 
54. Afterwards, we find the so-called nectaries of a determined and proper character, and 
in that case they approach in their formation sometimes to petals, sometimes to stamens. 
55. We feel induced from the above reasons to count the paracorolla likewise with 
the nectaries. For, as the formation of the petals is brought about by an expansion, 
the paracorolla will, like the stamens, be formed by contraction. So we find inside of a 
perfectly developed corolla, a small and contracted paracorolla in Narcissus, Nerium, 
Agrostemma, and others. 
56. We see in different genera of plants other changes in the petals, which are still 
more curious and striking. We observe in different flowers, at the base of their petals, a 
small cavity, filled with honey-like fluid. This cavity often becomes deeper in several 
plants, and produces on the back of the petals a spur or horn-like elongation, at the same 
time the whole petal becomes more or less modified. We may observe this in several 
species and varieties of Aquilegia. 
57. We find this organ transformed to the greatest degree in Aconitum and Nigella 
damascena, but with a little attention we shall be able to recognise its affinity with petals. 
Specially in Nigella it easily resumes the shape of a petal, and by this transformation of nec- 
taries to petals the flower becomes double. The resemblance of the nectary with the helm- 
like petal, which covers it in Aconitum, will soon be found out after careful examination. 
58. After having explained that nectaries are gradual transitions of petals into stamens, 
we may now have opportunity to make some observations on irregular flowers. So we 
might, for example, describe the five external petals of Melianthus as genuine petals, and 
the five internal ones as a paracorolla, consisting of six nectaries, of which the upper one 
approaches nearest to the form of petals, and the lower one, already taken to be a nectary, 
bearing the least resemblance. From the same motives we might take the carina of 
papilionaceous flowers for a nectary, as, inclosed by the other petals, it forms itself nearest 
to the shape of stamens, and is very far off the petal, like the formation of the so-called 
vexillum. In this manner we might easily explain the brush-like bodies attached to the 
point of the carina in some kinds of Polygala, and might form a clear idea of the 
destination of these parts. 
59. It is scarcely necessary to mention here, that it is not our intention in making 
these observations, to bring into confusion what has been separated and classified by others, 
we only wish to better explain the various formations of different organs by these remarks. 
VIII. Some more Observations on Stamens. 
60. That the sexual organs of plants are, like the other parts, produced by spiral vessels, 
has been raised above all doubts by microscropical observations. We take herefrom an 
argument for the internal identity of the different organs of plants, which have hitherto 
appeared under greatly varied forms. 
61. Now, if the spiral vessels lie in the centre of bundles of vascular vessels, enclosed by 
them, we may get a remote idea of their great power of contraction, considering the spiral 
vessels, which really appear to us as elastic springs, in their highest degree of force, when 
they will become predominant, and, accordingly, the expansion of the vascular vessels 
become subordinate. 
62. The shortened fascicles of vascular vessels can now no longer spread out, to seek 
each other again, and, by the action of anastomose, to form a net-work ; the cellular vessels, 
formerly forming the tissue, cannot develope themselves now ; all the causes by which 
