The Orchids of New England: A Popular Monograph (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

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Excerpt from The Orchids of New England: A Popular Monograph

Originally, Darwin tells us, the flower consisted of fifteen organs, arranged alternately, three within three, in five whorls or circles; three sepals, three petals, six anthers in two circles (of which only one belonging to the outer circle is perfect in all the common forms) and three pistils, with one of them modified into the rostellum. Of the existence of three of the anthers. In two 'of the whorls, R. Brown* offers no sufficient evidence, but believes that they are combined with the labellum whenever that organ presents crests or ridges. The amount of change these flowers have undergone from their parental or typical form is enormous. Organs are used for purposes widely different from their proper use, - other organs have been entirely suppressed or have left mere useless emblems of their former existence. Two stamens belonging to the outer circle, that were or became petal-like, have united with a real petal to form the lip. Seven organs have united to form the column, of which three alone perform their proper function, namely one anther and two generally confluent stigmas, with the third stigma modified into the rostellum and inca pable of being fertilized, - and with three of the anthers no longer functionally active, but serving either to protect the pollen of the fertile anther, or to strengthen the column, or existing as mere rudiments, or entirely suppressed. To trace the gradations perfectly between the several species and groups of species in this great and closely-connected order, all the ex tinct forms which have ever existed along many lines of descent converging to the common progenitor would have to be called into life. 1.

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