My dear Darwin

I enclose your sentence slightly modified. I suppose you refer to Phænogamic plants chiefly—² The greatest division are the two into Vegetables fecundating by pollen tube on ovule contents, in (Phænogams) &—the promiscuous always direct contact of naked cells in Cryptogams.

The Cryptogams are classified very much by vegetative organs, as well as by reproduct. The Phaenogams primarily divide into Monocot & Dicot which appear absolutely distinct.

1 Monocot.

a.Vasc. tissue of promiscuous bundles, in single system

b.Cotyledones of one folded leaf, or if more then alternate

c Germination—primordial leaves alternate—

Root sheathed in radicle.

2 Dicot—

a Vasc. tissue of seriated bundles in double system

b.Cotyledon two & opposite or more in whorls or opposite pairs.

c Germination—primordial leaves opposite.

Radicle lengthens & forms a branching descending axis.

Of Monocot. there are no sub-divisions depending on Embryologic characters of any great moment. Most are albuminous: very few Prealb.

Dicots. branch into Angiosperms & Gymnosperms, depending primarily on reproductive process

1.Angiosperms have the coverings of reproductive organs most highly specialized, the organs & processes simple & as in Monocots.

2 Gymnosperms have coverings of reproductive organs simple & incomplete; the organs & processes themselves infinitely more complex & specialized structurally & physiologically than Angiosperm or Monocot.

If you take reproductive organs as test of highness or lowness then Coniferæ are top of V.K.— if you take coverings of these & neglect the organs themselves, you may place them below Monocots.—but in so doing you neglect the vascular system germination & Embryolog. characters which are all as in Dicots, not as in Monocots³

As to my blessed Essay—it will stand weeks in type, so there will be no manner of hurry in reading & returning proofs.! I am sending it to press—now⁴

Ever yrs | J D Hooker