33 
are manifested in such infinite variety at the time of fer- 
tilization. 
. M. DeCandolle, who has noticed this phenomena, ascribes 
it, with some doubt, to the ** low degree of elasticity resident in 
the flower stalk,” (Physiologie Végétale, 1. 14) ; M. Morren's 
researches have led him to a very different conclusion. He 
found that the non-elasticity of the flower-stalk, when moved 
horizontally, exists only so long as it adheres to the stem, and 
that when it is cut off it indicates abundant elasticity in all 
directions ; and the eventual result of his enquiries was that, 
after all, the catalepsy of this plant is only sham. I now quote 
the author literally.—** In fact, if the flower-stalk is elastic 
when cut off, why should it be cataleptie while adhering to the 
stem? I therefore removed from a stem, with very sharp 
scissors, a bract quite down to its base; I then turned the 
flower to the right, when it sprang back to the left, and vice 
versa ; so that under these circumstances the elasticity was 
restored and the catalepsy gone. This curious experiment, 
the precise and positive result of which was really surprising, 
always succeeded ; and if an observer were not to push his en- 
quiries any further, he would conclude that the phenomenon 
is dependent upon the bracts ; it will be seen that in point of 
fact there is no catalepsy at all." 
Other experiments shewed that by cutting away half a 
bract, dividing it from the point to the base through the mid- 
rib, the flower recovered its elasticity on the side whence the 
bract was removed, but remained destitute of it on the side 
where the bract was uninjured ; so that by such a contri- 
vance, a flower can be brought into a state of elasticity on one 
side and of catalepsy on the other! It is however necessary 
to cut away the bract down to the point of its insertion, other- 
wise the apparent catalepsy is not destroyed. 
M. Morren observes that these curious phenomena are 
wholly dependent upon the peculiar arrangement and propor- 
tion of the flower-stalks and bracts, and that they are merely 
mechanical. It appears that each pedicel reposes in a bract 
channelled like a gutter, and that its length is a trifle more 
than half the breadth of the bract at its base, and it is in this 
cireumstance that the whole secret lies. The bract is much 
more rigid than the flower-stalk, is immoveable, and is placed 
close to the flower ; when the flower is turned to one side the 
base of the calyx, which forms a projection above the flower 
E. May, 1840. e 
