1798, and all the more important illustrations of physiological facts
before the latter period. They were made with a view to determine both
the distinctive characters of genera, and the anatomy and physiology of
the organs of fructification of the singular plants they represent. Explaining
in the clearest manner the real structure of the anther and
pollen, with all the extraordinary apparatus that is peculiar to those
organs—shewing the exact anatomy of the stigma, the stigmatic canal,
the ovarium, the fruit and the seed-and hence illustrating the mode in
which fructification is effected, and the relation the several parts bear
to each other—they demonstrate the existence, in the whole tribe, ot a
unity of design and a simplicity of structure which may seem incomprehensible
to the observer who has only examined an Orchis or a Malax,s,
but which daily experience assures us is never departed from by Nature
in any of her works.
In this, as in all other parts of the Sciences of Observation, discovery
has been slowly progressive. In some cases one observation has
led directly to another : in others, discoveries appear to have been accidental
and their importance not understood by their authors, who probably
were not even aware that they had made them. It was once my
intention to trace such matters chronologically ; but as this would have
occupied a »real deal of time, and led to differences ot opinion ot no
public importance, I have abandoned the design. Should the reader take
an interest in such investigations I refer him to the dates of Mr. Bauer s
drawings, and by comparing them with the dates of other publications
he can judge for himself to what amount of credit this most admirable
and original observer is entitled.
In drawing up the following view of the organization of Orchidaceffi,
I have of course availed myself of whatever I could find in the writings
of those who have treated upon the same subject; but I have not
thought it necessary to quote authorities except when other observers
entertain views different from my own or those of Mr. Bauer.
Univernty College, London, December, 1837.
P R E F A T O R Y R E M A R K S.
THE natural order called Orchidaceee consists of plants extremely
dissimilar in habits, appearance, and structure, but agreeing in being
organized upon the type of Endogens, in having gynandrous flowers,
and an inferior polyspermous ovary. Of these three characters there is
an infinite number of modifications, the nature of which it is the purpose
of the following general description in part to explain.
In habit they are terrestrial or growers in the earth, epiphytal or
growers upon the surface of trees, rocks, stems, and other bodies, or
apparently true parasites. While however it seems probable that such
plants as Neottia, Corallorhiza, and Gastrodia are of the latter kind, there
is no direct evidence of the fact.
Reticulated cellular tissue is common in all the foliaceous organs;
and raphides, collectcd in cubical bundles, occur in every part, except in
those immediately connected with the act of impregnation. They have
been found by Dr. Brown in the stigma, but I have not seen them in the
conducting tissue of that organ, although they undoubtedly occur in the
styles
The ROOTS are of the following kinds. Firstly, annual slender fibres,
simple or branched, of a succulent nature, incapable of extension, and
burrowing under ground, as in the genus Orchis ; secondly, annual fleshy
tubercles, round or oblong, simple or divided, as in the various species
of the same genus ; they arc always combined with the first, and appear,
from their containing amylaceous granules in large quantity, to be intended
as receptacles of matter fit for the nutrition of the plant: tubercles
of this kind always have a bud at. their extremity, and may be con