Evolution and the Vegetable Kingdom

Abstract

IN an article in this month's Contemporary, entitled “Evolution and the Vegetable Kingdom,” Mr. Carruthers refers incidentally to a question that deserves the careful consideration of all who accept the doctrine of evolution; viz., whether the earliest type of flower was hermaphrodite or unisexual. Alluding to the abundance and variety of palæozoic gymnosperms, as evidenced by the numerous fruits that have been discovered in the carboniferous measures, he lays stress on the fact that “they all belong to the Taxineous group of conifers …. that the plants of this section are all diœcious, i. e. having the sexes on different plants. If the occurrence of the germ and sperm elements in different organs, and even in different individuals, is evidence, as it is held, of higher development in phanerogams, then it is important to notice the order of appearance of diœcious and monœcious groups in relation to those with hermaphrodite flowers. Advocates of evolution hold that dimorphic plants are now in a transition stage progressing towards a diœcious condition. The conifers attained to the highest known development as regards this element of their structure on their first appearance.”