448 Solms-L cutback. — On the Fructification 
it might be otherwise, and a portion of the interstitial organs 
might possibly originate from the seed-stalks ; for the 
preparations which we possess do not show whether the 
organs of the central part, of which we have tranverse 
sections in slices from various parts of the spadix, are the 
same in all of them or not. Some might terminate inside 
the cluster, and others take their place. 
How then shall we interpret the facts as here presented in 
accordance with the principles of general morphology ? There 
can be no doubt about the axis which bears the spadix. But 
the seed-stalks may be axial members, or they may just as 
well be carpels, though in that case we should have the 
unusual phenomenon of terminal seeds. Then the inter- 
stitial organs may be aborted seed-stalks crushed between 
the others ; or they may, if the seed- stalks be axes, belong to 
a different category and be leaves. I leaned formerly to the 
former alternative ; but now that their peculiar connection with 
the formation of the homogeneous outer rind of the spadix 
has been ascertained, I incline rather to see in them the bracts 
and prophylls of the seed-stalks, to which must be added also 
such bracteoles, preceding the seed or flower, as may happen 
to spring from the seed-stalks. 
It appears therefore that there are the following possible 
modes of explaining the members which constitute the spadix : 
( r ) All its organs are carpels, some being fertile with a single 
ovule at the summit of each carpel, some sterile, but projecting 
beyond the fertile carpels with their coherent apices, the whole 
forming a single flower. (2) All the organs are axial members, 
with no development of leaves, some being sterile, others end- 
ing in a flower, which, like that of Taxus , is reduced to a single 
naked ovule. (3) The seed-stalks are one-flowered axes, the 
interstitial organs are leaves, either exclusively bracts, in which 
case we should have a gymnospermous capitulum, sit venia 
verbo , like that of Compositae, or partly also prophylls and 
bracteoles of the lateral axes in more exact analogy with the 
head of Echinops or Dipsacaceae. 
Whatever the conclusion may be, the formation of the pits 
