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Authors: J. W. v. Goethe
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instances of proliferous flowers, if we could have them before us, would help most decidedly in upholding this theory.
C HAPTER XV
A PROLIFEROUS ROSE
103
All that we have been seeking to grasp by powers of imagination and thought is shown most clearly in the instance of the proliferous rose. The calyx and corolla are arranged and developed around the axis; but instead of the seed-vessel contracted in the centre of the blossom, with the masculine and feminine organs arranged around, the stem, half red and half green, continues upward, while from it arise in succession smaller, dark red, folded petals, some of them bearing traces of anthers. The stem goes on growing, thorns appear on it again, the coloured petals which now appear singly become smaller and at last transform into variegated stem-leaves, half red and half green; a series of regular nodes is formed and from their eyes small, though imperfect, rosebuds appear once more.
104
This example in particular affords visible proof of our theory, namely, that all calyces are simply leaves, folia floralia , contracted and growing together at the periphery. For in this specimen the calyx, gathered round the axis, consists of five perfectly developed, compound leaves of three or five leaflets, such as are normally produced by rose branches at their nodes.
C HAPTER XVI
A PROLIFEROUS CARNATION
105
Strange as this phenomenon will appear to us when we contemplate it, yet another—a proliferous carnation—is still more remarkable. We see a perfect flower with a calyx and a double corolla; in the centre is a seed-capsule, not, however, quite fully developed. From the sides of the corolla four new and perfect flowers are developed, separated from the parent-flower by stalks three or four nodes or more in length. These new flowers, too, have calyces and double corollas, formed not so much of single petals as of little crowns of petals united at their base, or more often of petals which have developed like little twigs and grown together round a stem. Notwithstanding this monstrous development, filaments and anthers are present in some of these flowers. Fruit capsules are there with their styles, the capsules appearing again in leaf-form. Indeed, in one flower the seed-vessels were united into a perfect calyx and contained the rudiments of another complete, double flower.
106
While the rose was like a half completed flower, from the centre of which the stem again shot upward, bearing stem-leaves as before, the carnation, with a well formed calyx and perfect corolla and a capsule situated properly in the centre, had developed eyes from among the surrounding petals, producing actual twigs and flowers. We see, then, from these two instances, that Nature normally terminates the period of growth in the blossom—adds it up, so to speak, to a sum-total, so that by thus checking the possibility of gradual and infinite growth, she may achieve her aim the more quickly through the forming of seeds.
C HAPTER XVII
LINNAEUS’S THEORY OF ANTICIPATION
107
If here and there I may have stumbled on a path which one of my predecessors, though attempting it under the guidance of his great teacher, describes as so fearful and dangerous; or if I have not quite succeeded in levelling it and clearing it of every obstacle for those who come after me, yet I still hope that this will not have been a fruitless undertaking.
108
At this point it will be right to consider the theory by which Linnaeus sought to explain these phenomena. The things of which this essay treats could not have escaped his keen eye, and if we may now proceed from where he left off, we are indebted to the endeavours of so many observers and thinkers who have dispelled prejudices and cleared away many hindrances from our path. An exact comparison of his theory with one we have just propounded would take too long. Those acquainted with this subject will easily do this for themselves, and such a comparison would be too complicated to
C HAPTER XV
A PROLIFEROUS ROSE
103
All that we have been seeking to grasp by powers of imagination and thought is shown most clearly in the instance of the proliferous rose. The calyx and corolla are arranged and developed around the axis; but instead of the seed-vessel contracted in the centre of the blossom, with the masculine and feminine organs arranged around, the stem, half red and half green, continues upward, while from it arise in succession smaller, dark red, folded petals, some of them bearing traces of anthers. The stem goes on growing, thorns appear on it again, the coloured petals which now appear singly become smaller and at last transform into variegated stem-leaves, half red and half green; a series of regular nodes is formed and from their eyes small, though imperfect, rosebuds appear once more.
104
This example in particular affords visible proof of our theory, namely, that all calyces are simply leaves, folia floralia , contracted and growing together at the periphery. For in this specimen the calyx, gathered round the axis, consists of five perfectly developed, compound leaves of three or five leaflets, such as are normally produced by rose branches at their nodes.
C HAPTER XVI
A PROLIFEROUS CARNATION
105
Strange as this phenomenon will appear to us when we contemplate it, yet another—a proliferous carnation—is still more remarkable. We see a perfect flower with a calyx and a double corolla; in the centre is a seed-capsule, not, however, quite fully developed. From the sides of the corolla four new and perfect flowers are developed, separated from the parent-flower by stalks three or four nodes or more in length. These new flowers, too, have calyces and double corollas, formed not so much of single petals as of little crowns of petals united at their base, or more often of petals which have developed like little twigs and grown together round a stem. Notwithstanding this monstrous development, filaments and anthers are present in some of these flowers. Fruit capsules are there with their styles, the capsules appearing again in leaf-form. Indeed, in one flower the seed-vessels were united into a perfect calyx and contained the rudiments of another complete, double flower.
106
While the rose was like a half completed flower, from the centre of which the stem again shot upward, bearing stem-leaves as before, the carnation, with a well formed calyx and perfect corolla and a capsule situated properly in the centre, had developed eyes from among the surrounding petals, producing actual twigs and flowers. We see, then, from these two instances, that Nature normally terminates the period of growth in the blossom—adds it up, so to speak, to a sum-total, so that by thus checking the possibility of gradual and infinite growth, she may achieve her aim the more quickly through the forming of seeds.
C HAPTER XVII
LINNAEUS’S THEORY OF ANTICIPATION
107
If here and there I may have stumbled on a path which one of my predecessors, though attempting it under the guidance of his great teacher, describes as so fearful and dangerous; or if I have not quite succeeded in levelling it and clearing it of every obstacle for those who come after me, yet I still hope that this will not have been a fruitless undertaking.
108
At this point it will be right to consider the theory by which Linnaeus sought to explain these phenomena. The things of which this essay treats could not have escaped his keen eye, and if we may now proceed from where he left off, we are indebted to the endeavours of so many observers and thinkers who have dispelled prejudices and cleared away many hindrances from our path. An exact comparison of his theory with one we have just propounded would take too long. Those acquainted with this subject will easily do this for themselves, and such a comparison would be too complicated to
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