ARRANGEMENT OF TUE PARTS OF THE FLOWER. 465 



very short funnel-shaped flower-tube, from the edge of which six 

 segments are given off, not three followed by three as in the normal 

 flower. Within these six, and superposed to them, are six others ; 

 to these succeed in like manner as many more, and so on for many 

 series. In the case of -ZV. Eystettensis the corona is absent, as 

 are also the stamens and pistil ; but in the other double Narcissi, 

 to which reference has been made, the corona is repeated, and the 

 centre of the flower is occupied by a confused mass of imperfect 

 and partly petaloid stamens and styles. The ovary, which is usually 

 adnate to the tube of the flower (inferior), is in these flowers 

 absent. The appearances presented, therefore, are due to a repe- 

 tition of the perianthial whorl, to the complete or partial exclu- 

 sion of the stamens and other parts of the flower. Further 

 examination of very young buds is requisite before it can be 

 stated definitely whether in this particular instance the repetition 

 of parts is due to chorisis of preexisting organs, or to a distinct 

 series of new growths from the receptacle. So far as I have seen, 

 I am disposed to believe that the latter is the true method ac- 

 cording to which these flowers are constructed. 



Eeal superposition of whorls is also met with in some Olacacea) 



(as in Cathedra), S 



P 



St 



o, 



Men 



or, as in Cissampelos* , 



S 

 P 



St 



s 

 p 

 o. 



Perhaps also the prevalent arrangement in Restiaceae, where 

 the three stamens are superposed to the three inner perianth- 

 segments, may be referred to the same cause. 



S 



s 



St 3 



1-3 



At any rate analogy affords no indication of the abortion of an 

 outer row of stamens in these Dlants. 



_ mm m *m\m . • . 1^1 



►ermaceee 



Brasiliensis ; (Marines, see Miers, ■ Contrib.' toI. 1 ; Engl or in 'Flora Brarilieu- 

 «»;' and Mast, in Hook. PI. Brit. India, i. p. 572. 



