208 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
Mr. B. Clarke, eight years ago*, when he pointed out the im- 
portance of knowing the position of the raphe in its earliest 
development, — a character he employed to show the relation of 
different families in a systematic point of view, according to his 
own peculiar notions. 
Prof, xlgardh has very lately contributed a valuable collection 
of facts upon the same head, and with the same view, to which 
he has attached more importance than they deserve ; still, the 
facts demonstrated by him claim our especial notice, as they are 
accompanied by nearly 500 figures illustrative of the modes of 
development of the ovule in 310 different genera of plants. He 
has shown how much the position of the raphe, in regard to the 
axis of the ovary, varies in different families, and even in diffei’ent 
genera, of the same order; and in his novel systematic arrange- 
ment of Phanerogamiat, this difference has in many cases led 
him to break up many natural orders into distinct groups, which 
he separates by long intervals, while at the same time he places 
in juxtaposition other families of little real kindredship, thus 
suggesting a distribution quite incompatible with our generally 
received notions of real affinity. But although this new system 
is not likely to receive the support of botanists in general, still 
the many observations, and the numerous facts and draw- 
ings here contributed, will show the value of the character of 
the development of the ovule, if applied only as an accessory 
feature. In order, however, to elicit the true value of this cha- 
racter, it should be followed through all the changes of subse- 
quent growth, up to the period of the perfection of the seed, — a 
consideration not attended to in that work. I have shown the 
importance of this last consideration in the Styracece, especially 
in the tribe Halesiete-, and I have yet to detail developments of 
a similar nature in other families which I have investigated. It 
is with the view of extending this inquiry that I have brought 
together these remarks. 
It is evident from the foregoing exposition that the word 
anatropal, as applied to an ovule developed under a certain con- 
dition, is a very incorrect term, and one that might with pro- 
priety be abolished, because it serves to perpetuate a prevailing 
error; but it may still be retained if we limit its signification to 
a comparative instead of an active sense, — meaning, by the word 
inverted, a different position of the radicle in regard to the hilum 
* “ On the Position of the Carpels when 2, and when single ; including 
Outlines of a new Method of Arrangement of the Orders of Exogens, and 
Observations on the Structure of Ovaries consisting of a single carpel.” 
Proceed. Linn. Soe. ii. 105. — “ On the Position of the Raphe in Anatropal 
Ovules,” ibid. p. 147. 
t Theoria Systematica Plantamm : Lundae, 1858. 
