208 DR. M. T. MASTERS ON A PELORIA AND 
opposite side, alternating with the petals before mentioned, two 
additional lip-like petals, one provided with a half-anther con- 
taining a single perfectly formed pollen-mass. It is, perhaps, 
worthy of notice that the arrangement of the coloured spots on 
the true labellum, and that on the adventitious lips, replacing the 
two lower of the outer stamens, were not of a similar character. 
The supernumerary lips had the z-shaped marking which is so 
very common in this species, while the true lip was, as to its 
spots, much more like O. apifera. Alternating with this last 
whorl were three “columns,” all apparently perfectly formed and 
differing only from the ordinary one in their smaller size. The 
ovary had the characters already mentioned. Viewing this flower 
with reference to the theoretical structure of Orchid flowers, as 
explained by Robert Brown*, and more recently by Mr. Darwinf, 
its peculiarities (save those of the ovary) seem susceptible of ready 
explanation. The first and second whorls are but little affected ; 
the third whorl, which, under ordinary circumstances, is repre- 
sented by a single column, is here present in the form of one 
perfect column and two petaloid ones; of the latter, one, indeed, 
is provided with half an anther (as in Canna), These petaloid 
columns are usually not developed as distinct organs, but are in- 
separably fused with the labellum. I may here add, that I found 
numerous instances in which one or both of the lateral petals 
were adherent to the column, thus illustrating that tendency to 
adhesion between these organs whieh is (supposing Mr. Darwin’s 
views to be correct) so remarkably carried out in the case of the 
lip. The fourth whorl of three columns corresponds precisely to 
the inner staminal whorl, which is usually entirely wanting. In 
the Ophree, indeed, Mr. Darwint declares that the spiral vessels, 
by which the presence of this inner row of stamens in other 
Orchids may be detected, are not to be found. The two-celled 
pistil is not so easily explained. At first sight it appeared as if 
there had been a fusion of two pistils and an obliteration of two 
placentas; but if this view be taken, it will be very difficult to 
account for the number and position of the other whorls of the 
flower, which are so readily referable to the typical form. 
For the sake of comparison, I subjoin a brief notice of some of 
the deviations from the ordinary structure of the andreecium in 
Orchids, as recorded by various observers. 
In Dendrobium normale, Falconer, not only is the perianth 
* Linn. Trans. xvi. p. 685. + Fertilization of Orchids, p. 286. 
+ Op. cit. p. 296, adnot, 
