IN PLANTS HAVING IRREGULAR COROLLAS. 399 
posterior. The calyx and other parts of these flowers were 
normal. Flowers of this type may perhaps be profitably com- 
pared with those of Calceolaria. 
Asymmetrical flowers—It has been stated that no flower 
intermediate between any of these types was found. Two 
flowers, however, we found which were asymmetrical, though 
they were in no sense intermediate between the other flowers. 
In each of these the anterior petal was large, like the lateral 
petal of a normal flower, and in one case the right-hand 
lateral petal was small like the normal anterior petal, while 
in the other it was the left-hand lateral petal which was thus 
reduced. 
Plants were found bearing normal flowers together with one 
of the types of 5-petalled flowers, and the two types of 5-petalled 
flowers were not found together on any plant in one case. 
The 3-petalled and 2-petalled flowers were found together with 
each other and with the normal on the same plant. 
Colour of abnormal flowers.—In a normal 4-petalled flower 
the posterior petal is dark blue, the two lateral petals are a good 
deal lighter in colour, while the small anterior petal is still paler, 
being nearly white in some flowers. 
Now in mary of the flowers with an abnormal number of petals 
the distribution of colour followed the normal arrangement ; 
that is to say, there was one large posterior dark petal, and the 
colour of the other petals became paler as the anterior middle line 
was approached. Sometimes the transition is so abrupt as to 
cause the middle strip of the anterior petal (in a 2-petalled 
flower) to seem nearly white; while in a 3-petalled flower, in 
which the division between two petals falls in the middle line, 
the edges of each of these is the part having the pale colour. 
Nevertheless, besides these, in several cases the three petals 
were all of a closely similar tint. 
These facts show that the constitution of the flower is such 
that the forces by which the corolla is divided into segments are 
of such akind that they may be disposed according to the various 
plans described, without necessarily involving any redistribution 
of the colouring. Though no conclusion can be now predicated 
from this fact, still it should be remembered when the time comes 
for attempting to apprehend the nature of the forces which thus 
divide the corolla into petals. 
As many persons are disposed to attach importance to change 
