Chapter CLXI: Book XVII: Physiology and Comparative Anatomy

VEGETABLE MORPHOLOGY.

_Morphology in Linnæus._

I HAVE stated that Linnæus had some views on this subject. Dr. Hooker conceives these views to be more complete and correct than is generally allowed, though unhappily clothed in metaphorical language and mixed with speculative matter. By his permission I insert some remarks which I have received from him.

The fundamental passage on this subject is in the _Systema Naturæ_; in the Introduction to which work the following passage occurs:--

"Prolepsis (Anticipation) exhibits the mystery of the metamorphosis of plants, by which the herb, which is the _larva_ or imperfect condition, is changed into the declared fructification: for the plant is capable of producing either a leafy herb or a fructification. . . . . .

"When a tree produces a flower, nature anticipates the produce of five years where these come out all at once; forming of the bud-leaves of the next year _bracts_; of those of the following year, the _calyx_; of the following, the _corolla_; of the next, the _stamina_; of the subsequent, the _pistils_, filled with the granulated marrow of the seed, the terminus of the life of a vegetable."

Dr. Hooker says, "I derive my idea of his having a better knowledge of the subject than most Botanists admit, not only from the Prolepsis, but from his paper called _Reformatio Botanices_ (_Amœn. Acad._ vol. vi.); a remarkable work, in respect of his candor in speaking of his predecessors' labors, and the sagacity he shows in indicating researches to be undertaken or completed. Amongst the latter is V. 'Prolepsis plantarum, ulterius extendenda per earum metamorphoses.' The last word occurs rarely in his _Prolepsis_; but when it does it seems to me that he uses it as indicating a normal change and not an accidental one. {637}

"In the _Prolepsis_ the speculative matter, which Linnæus himself carefully distinguishes as such, must be separated from the rest, and this may I think be done in most of the sections. He starts with explaining clearly and well the origin and position of buds, and their constant presence, whether developed or not, in the axil of the leaf: adding abundance of acute observations and experiments to prove his statements. The leaf he declares to be the first effort of the plant in spring: he proceeds to show, successively, that bracts, calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil are each of them metamorphosed leaves, in every case giving MANY EXAMPLES, both from monsters and from characters presented by those organs in their normal condition.

"The (to me) obscure and critical part of the _Prolepsis_ was that relating to the change of the style of _Carduus_ into two leaves. Mr. Brown has explained this. He says it was a puzzle to him, till he went to Upsala and consulted Fries and Wahlenberg, who informed him that such monstrous _Cardui_ grew in the neighborhood, and procured him some. Considering how minute and masked the organs of _Compositæ_ are, it shows no little skill in Linnæus, and a very clear view of the whole matter, to have traced the metamorphosis of all their floral organs into leaves, except their stamens, of which he says, 'Sexti anni folia e staminibus me non in compositis vidisse fateor, sed illorum loco folia pistillacea, quæ in compositis aut plenis sunt frequentissima.' I must say that nothing could well be clearer to my mind than the full and accurate appreciation which Linnæus shows of the whole series of phenomena, and their _rationale_. He over and over again asserts that these organs are leaves, every one of them,--I do not understand him to say that the prolepsis is an accidental change of leaves into bracts, of bracts into calyx, and so forth. Even were the language more obscure, much might be inferred from the wide range and accuracy of the observations he details so scientifically. It is inconceivable that a man should have traced the sequence of the phenomena under so many varied aspects, and shown such skill, knowledge, ingenuity, and accuracy in his methods of observing and describing, and yet missed the _rationale_ of the whole. Eliminate the speculative parts and there is not a single error of observation or judgment; whilst his history of the developement of buds, leaves, and floral organs, and of various other obscure matters of equal interest and importance, are of a very high order of merit, are, in fact, for the time profound.

"There is nothing in all this that detracts from the merit of Goethe's {638} re-discovery. With Goethe it was, I think, a deductive process,--with Linnæus an inductive. Analyse Linnæus's observations and method, and I think it will prove a good example of inductive reasoning.

"P. 473. Perhaps Professor Auguste St Hilaire of Montpellier should share with De Candolle the honor of contributing largely to establish the metamorphic doctrine;--their labors were cotemporaneous.

"P. **474. Linnæus pointed out that the pappus was calyx: 'Et _pappum_ gigni ex quarti anni foliis, in jam nominatis Carduis.'--_Prol. Plant._ 338." (_J. D. H._)