IN FUCHSIA GLOBOSA. 497 
The facts observed and recorded would seem to justify the 
following conclusions :— 
1. Fuchsia descends from a tetramerous flower with a Soliaceous 
calyx, a polypetalous corolla, one whorl of (antisepalous) stamens, 
and a four-celled inferior pistil. 
It should be noted here, that notwithstanding the deviations 
from ordinary number as described in section 7, there is no defi- 
nite reason for assuming another number than four, for instance 
2, 3, 5, or 6, to have been the original one. That the calyx must 
be assumed to have been green, is not only to be derived from the 
numerous cases of abnormal virescence, but also from the circum- 
stance that nearly all the genera of the Onagrariacex have green 
calyces. It is moreover remarkable that Fuchsia serratifolia 
(from Peru) has a bright green calyx, whilst F. splendens from 
the Fotanpeque mountain has green sepals on a scarlet tube. 
Further, F. apetala from Peru has rosy green-tipped sepals, while 
F. excorticata from New Zealand has a calyx which is at first 
green, in a subsequent stage blue, and finally red. 
The assumption of a polypetalous corolla of course needs no 
explanation, nor does the absence of the antipetalous stamens 
after the reasoning in section 2 about this subject. We only 
wish to add that they may be wanting also in other genera. 
Our assumption of an inferior ovary is based on the rare occur- 
rence of a different position. The few cases of a superior ovary 
showed this organ at the same time imperfect. Our conclusion 
also as to this point agrees with the fact that in the whole family 
the ovary is inferior. 
2. The calyx-tube of the original Fuchsia was probably short, 
perhaps even absent, it has subsequently become lengthened in 
connection with the colouring of the sepals, which change must 
evidently have had to do with the fertilization of the flowers by 
insects. 
This thesis is supported by the variable length, the fission, and 
even the absence of the tube, but chiefly by the marked tendency 
of the stamens, sepals, and petals to coalesce. We have given in 
sections 2 and 6 various instances of petals and antipetalous 
stamens being connected with each other a long way up beyond 
the edge of the tube. This tendeney persists in the normal 
calyx-tube, for which reason it is probably as little original in 
Fuchsia as it is now in Epilobium and many other genera of the 
same family. Also within the limits of the genus Fuchsia con- 
siderable differences exist as to the length of the normal calyx- 
