10 ON THE STRUCTURE OF CRUCIFEROUS FLOWERS. 
or little understood by the greater number of botanists. Let us 
consider what probably may be their use and origin. 
We may lay it down as a general rule that there can exist but 
two sorts of glandular bodies in the flower. Glands result either 
from the abortion or atrophy of certain organs, or they are swe 
generis. These latter form an integral part of the verticillate 
organs of the flower, or else they are dilatations of the receptacle 
appertaining more or less to the insertion of the stamens. 
For example, the three glandular processes of several Hyperica, 
(Triadenia, Spach) manifestly occupy the place of staminal organs 
greatly modified through want of nourishment. 
On the other hand the filaments in Lawrus nobilis by no means 
represent abortive organs.* The same may be said of the dorsal 
protuberances of the calycine leaves of the Malpighia, and of the 
nectariferous swellings in the flowers of various Litiacea.t This 
rule being established, let us see to which of these classes the 
glandular bodies of the Cruciferæ belong. 
These organs are two, four, six or eight, in number. 
In the Cheiranthus Cherri we find only two glandst, correctly 
described by M. Lestiboudois.|| These glands form two excres- 
cences, from the middle of which the two solitary stamens rise. 
They have the appearance of fleshy rings somewhat irregular above 
where they are slightly quadridentate. These excrescences cannot 
be considered abortive organs, for if they represented stamens 
_ placed either above or below, they would be opposed to the solitary 
_ stamens. Nor can we suppose them to form an integral part of 
. the stamens whose filaments they embrace, for the stamen is arti- 
culated with them. We are obliged therefore necessarily to 
consider them as glandular processes destined to support the male 
organ of the flower. 
* These glands frequently become stamens, and in that case three stamens are 
found in the place where there should be but one. (Mog. Ess. sur les déd.) 
+ See likewise the double glands placed at the base of the three exterior folioles of 
the Polygala ozyphylla, D.C. — Defess. Ic. select. 8, vol. 17, fig. 3. i 
t Phyt. Can. sect. 1 vol. 8, A 2, fig. 6 
|| Sur Pinsert. des étam. des Crueif. p. x 
