Vegetable Teratology | Page 6

constituent elements pertaining to
those aggregates of individuals to which naturalists apply the terms
classes, orders, &c.
In successive metamorphosis we have a measure of the amount of
change and of the perfection of structure to which each separate organ
attains.
In ascending metamorphosis we have a gauge of the extent of alteration
that may take place in the several homologous organs under existing
circumstances.
In collateral metamorphosis, in the same way, we have an illustration
of the degree of change possible in aggregates of organisms under
existing circumstances.
Now it is clear that from an investigation of all three classes just
mentioned, we shall be able to gain an idea of those points which are
common to all parts, to all individuals or to all aggregates, and those
that are peculiar to some of them, and, by eliminating the one from the
other, we shall arrive at conclusions which will be more or less
generally accurate or applicable, according to the ability of the student
and the extent to which the comparative analysis is earned. It is thus
that morphologists have been enabled to frame types or standards of
reference, and systematists to collocate the organisms they deal with
into groups. These standards and groups are more or less artificial
(none can be entirely natural) in proportion to the amount of knowledge
possessed by their framers, and the use they make of it.
From this point of view teratological metamorphosis of all three kinds
demands as much attention as that which is called normal. We can have
no thorough knowledge of an organ, of an individual which is an
aggregate of organs, or of an aggregate of individuals of whatever
degree, unless we know approximately, at least, what are the limits of

each. It is not possible to trace these limits accurately in the case of
natural science, but the larger our knowledge and the wider our
generalisations, the closer will be our approach to the truth.
The most satisfactory classification of malformations would be one
founded upon the nature of the causes inducing the several changes.
Thus, in all organised beings, there is a process of growth, mere
increase in bulk as it were, and a process of evolution or
metamorphosis, in accordance with which certain parts assume a
different form from the rest, in order the better to fit them for the
performance of different offices. Should growth and development be
uniform and regular, that is in accordance with what is habitual in any
particular species, there is no monstrosity, but if either growth or
development be in any way irregular, malformation results. Hence,
theoretically, the best way of grouping cases of malformation would be
according as they are the consequences of:--1st. Arrest of Growth;
2ndly. Excessive Growth; 3rdly. Arrest of Development; 4thly, of
Excessive or Irregular Development.
In practice, however, there are so many objections to this plan that it
has not been found practicable to carry it out. The inability arises to a
great extent from our ignorance of what should be attributed to arrest of
growth, what to excess of development, and so on. Moreover, a student
with a malformed plant before him must necessarily ascertain in what
way it is malformed before he can understand how it became so, and
for this purpose any scheme that will enable him readily to detect the
kind of monstrosity he is examining, even though it be confessedly
artificial and imperfect will be better than a more philosophical
arrangement which circumstances prevent him from employing.
The plan followed in this volume is a slight modification of that
adopted by Moquin-Tandon, and with several additions. In it the aim is
to place before the student certain salient and easily recognisable points
by reference to which the desired information can readily be found.
Under each subdivision will be found general explanatory remarks,
illustrative details, and usually a summary of the more important facts
and the inferences to be derived from them. Bibliographical references

and lists of the plants most frequently affected with particular
malformations are also given. In reference to both these points it must
be remembered that absolute completeness is not aimed at; had such
fullness of detail been possible of attainment it would have necessitated
for its publication a much larger volume than the present.[5] It is hoped
that both the lists of books and of plants are sufficiently full for all
general purposes.[6]
In the enumeration of plants affected with various malformations the !
denotes that the writer has himself seen examples of the deviation in
question in the particular plant named, while the prefix of the *
indicates that the malformation occurs with special frequency in the
particular plant to which the sign is attached.
Teratological alterations are rarely isolated phenomena, far more
generally they are associated