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 o02 ON THE ORGANS AND MODE OF FECUNDATION

nent parts of the ovarium. On this subject very little in- formation is to be obtained from the writings of botanists, most of whom have contented themselves with describing the stigma as a disk, a fovea ghitinosa, a secreting surface, or viscid space in front of the column. The late celebrated Richard, however, who adverts to the occasional existence of two lateral processes of his gynizus, may be supposed to have had more correct notions of its composition : and it may also be observed, that in Curtis's plate of Ophrys cqnfera already referred to, and still more distinctly in Mr. Bauer's figure of Orchis mascida, the two lateral lobes are represented as distinct, corresponding very exactly with Haller's description, in 1742, of the stigma in this genus.

The result of my examination of this point satisfied me that Orchide^ have in reality three stigmata, generally more or less confluent, but in some cases manifestly distinct, and two of wdiich are in several instances even furnished with styles of considerable length.

These stigmata are placed opposite to the three outer divisions of the perianthium, and consequently terminate the axes of the supposed component parts of the ovarium, always regarded by me as made up of three simple ovaria 700] unitecrby their ovuliferous margins ; a structure in which the ordinary relation of stigmata to placentae is that here found.

In Mr. Bauer's ' Illustrations' already referred to, a very different account is given of the composition of the ovarium, which is there said to be formed of six pieces.

This view of its composition seems to be founded on the existence of six vascular cords, on the apparent interrup- tions in the cellular tissue, and on the singular dehiscence of the capsule. But the mere number of vascular cords, which, being destined to supply all parts of the flow^er, may be said rather to indicate the divisions of the perianthium than those of the ovarium, cannot be considered as affording an argument of much importance, and, if it were, would equally apply to many other families having trilocular ovaria, as Irideae ; while the interruptions or inequalities of cellular tissue may be viewed as only the preparation for

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