I now proceed to state, in some cases briefly, in others at greater length, the results of this investigation.
The first question that occupied me was, the relation which the lateral and generally rudimentary stamina bear [696 to the other parts of the flower.
Into this subject I had in part entered in my Observations on Apostasia, published by Dr. Wallich in his 'Plantæ Asiaticæ Rariores,'[1] and had then considered it probable that in all cases these Stamina, in whatever state of development they were found, belonged to a different series from the middle and usually fertile stamen; in other words, were placed opposite to the two lateral divisions of the inner series of the perianthium. In 1810, however, when I first advanced my hypothesis of the true nature of these processes of the column, I supposed, though the opinion was not then expressed, that they formed the complement of the outer series of stamina; a view which has been since very generally adopted, especially by Dr. Von Martius, who has given it in a stenographic formula, and by Mr. Lindley, who has exhibited the relative position of parts in this familv in a diagram.[2] A careful examination of the structure of the column in various tribes of the order, chiefly by means of transverse sections, has fully confirmed the opinion I entertained when treating of Apostasia; and more particularly established the fact in Cypripedium, in which these lateral stamina are perfectly developed.
On the hypothesis of rudimentary stamina I may remark, that it presented itself to me some time before the publication of the Prodromus Floræ Novæ Hollandiæ; and my belief is, that until the appearance of that work this view had not been taken by any other observer in England. Mr. Bauer at least, in a recent conversation on the subject, readily admitted, with his usual candour, that although acquainted with a case of accidental development, the general view had not occurred to him until stated by me.
In my mind it arose from contrasting the structure of [697 Cypripedium with those genera of New Holland Orchideæ—Diuris, Prasophyllum, and others—in which the lateral
- ↑ Vol. i, p. 74.
- ↑ Introduct. to Nat. Syst. p. 264.
