DK. M. T. MASTEKS ON A DOTIBLK-FLOAVEBKD ORCHTS. 353 



these secondary axillary flower-buds (PL X. fig. G) had small 

 bracts at the base of the rudimentary ovaries ; at the summit of 

 these latter were three sepals of the ordinary form, but which, in 

 some instanices, showed indications of a tubular spur. Within 

 these sepalsj and separated from them by a short intemode 

 (apostasis), were the petals, two of them like the sepals in form, 

 the third lip-like but turned on one side to avoid the spur of the 

 sepal. Both sepals and petals had rudimentary a.xillary buds, 

 Avhich I may here call tertiary axillary buds. ]S"ext in order to 

 these petals was, in some cases, a single petaloid stamen, while iu 

 other instances tw^o such organs were present (PL X. figs. 7, 7 «). 

 These stamens had broad, petal-like filaments, bearing at their 

 upper end brownish anthers, adherent to tlic back of the filaments, 

 and biu'stingj as it would seem, by a horizontal chink near the 

 top. These anthers were in some cases surmounted by a small 

 triangular appendage continuous with the filament. The pollen- 

 niasses (PL X. fig. 8) were of the usual form, but had only very 

 short rudimentary caudicles. No rostella or viscid disks were to 

 be seen ; but the centres of the flowers Avere occupied by otlier, 

 miniature florets (PL X. figs. 9, 9^), which I sliall speak of as 

 tertiary median florets. These latter had three equal sepals, at 

 tlie top of a rudimentary ovary. In their axils were incipient 

 quaternary axillary buds (PL X. fig. 10). 'Next came the minute 

 equal petals, alternating with the sepals ; while quite in the centre 

 "V^'as a dome-shaped mass of cellular tissue, not as yet marked out 

 into separate portions. 



Hence, then, the secondary axillary flowers were the subjects 

 of both median and axillary prolification, the median florets bein 

 again prolified, but the quaternary buds in this series are axillary 

 only. 



To make this somewhat complicated description more clear, it 

 may be well to give a brief summary of the main points of interest 

 presented by these flowers. Tirst, then, there were the primary 

 flowers, composed of five distinct whorls, and at least of two others 

 less perfectly developed. These primary flowers did not give rise 

 Comedian buds, but they produced secondary axillary buds (PL XI. 

 Tir. 2). These latter were themselves the subject of tertiary 

 prolification of both kinds, median and axillary (PLXI.iir. 3, 3', 3'). 



The tertiary median buds (3), like the primary flower (I), did 

 not develope median buds, but only lateral ones — quaternary axil- 

 lary prolification (4', 4'). 



Since publishing my paper on a partially double flower of 



o 



