472 DR. M. T. MA8TKBS ON THE srPERPOSED 



are probably originally referable to five branched stamens, with or 

 without staminodes, in a single or double whorl. The staminodes 

 may be independent structures ; but usually the}' are sterile por- 

 tions of a branched or compound stamen. 

 In Prockia the arrangement is 



S 



Sts, 



the superposition of the stamens being apparent rather than real, 

 owing to the abortion or suppression of the petals. 



A very frequent arrangement is that met with in Glyplicea, En- 

 telea, Triumfetta, Ifeliocarpus, JSrinocarpus y Sloanea, Grewia, Cor- 

 chorus, Desplatzia, as also in Kydia among Malvaceae : — 



S 



P 



Sts. 

 Luhea only differs from this in the presence of a row of stami- 



nodes ontside the stamens, thus- 



S 



E 



x x 



Sts, 



the staminodes being probably, therefore, simply sterile divisions 

 of the stamen. 



In llasseltia and Plagiopteron, as in Malopc, Bombax, Erioden- 

 dron, Durio, &c, among Malvaceae, the stamens are superposed 



to the petals thus 



S 



Sts ; 



and the same arrangement holds good in the case of Commersonia 

 and Pent ace, with the addition of a row of antisepalous stami- 

 nodes within the fertile stamens. 



In Aristotelia, as in Sidalcea, among Malvaceae, there are two 

 rows of stamens thus arranged 



S 



P 



Sts 



Sts, 

 the typical alternation being here not interfered with. Broicn- 



