98 
Mr. Brown’s Observations on the 
number subject to reduction, that this reduction, where the flower 
is of a regular form, takes place in the same order in each natural 
family. Thus in Juncece , which are general^ he^androus, the tri- 
androus species have their stamina constantly placed opposite to 
the three outer leaves of the perianthium, while in Restiaceas, As- 
phodeleae, and 1 believe in a great part of the regular-flowered 
Liliaceae, in certain species of which a similar reduction occurs, 
the stamina in the triandrous species are placed opposite to the 
inner leaves or segments of the perianthium. But in both cases 
the greater perfection of those stamina that exist in genera or 
species reduced to the smallest number, is indicated, where there 
is no reduction, by the earlier bursting of their antherae; so that 
from this circumstance the order of reduction or abortion of sta¬ 
mina in any natural family may with some confidence be pre¬ 
dicted by an examination of those genera where the number is 
complete. 
Wherever the separation of sexes takes place, it may be assumed 
that the female flower is the more perfect production. And if 
this be admitted, where both sexes exist in the same simple spike 
the female should be found at its base, or where expansion com¬ 
mences, which is almost uniformly the case. For the same rea¬ 
son, in the trifid or trichotomous inflorescence, the female should 
be placed in the centre, which is also generally the fact*. 
This connexion between praecocity and perfection of develop¬ 
ment is even more constant than the order of expansion in certain 
forms of inflorescence; as it is found to extend to several of the 
exceptions to this order. 
Thus in the apparently simple spike of Poterium , where the 
order of expansion is descendent, the female flowers occupy the 
* To this order the most remarkable exception occurs in Begonia, in which the male 
flowers are central, and expand long before the lateral female flowers. 
upper 
