May 1, 1869.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



103 



supporting a stigma and a two-celled anther. In 

 Cypripedium there are two anthers. 



Figures 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 are plans and 

 drawings of various monstrous forms. The first 



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Fig-. 68. 



Fig. 69, 



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Fig. 70. 



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Fig. ;i. 



Fig. 72. 

 Diagrams of Cephalanthera grandiflora, 



five are from flowers of CepJialantJiera grandiflora. 

 No. 73 is from Orchis purpurea, and No. 74 from 

 Gymnadenia conopsea. The same signs are used to 

 represent the different parts as in the diagram 

 illustrating the normal condition of the flower. In 

 fig. 6S there are two labellums ; in fig. 69 there are 

 three, which are joined together at the base. Fig. 



70 has three labellums and a double column. Eig. 



71 has four sepals and two labellums. Eig. 72 is a 



very curious example ; it has four sepals, two label- 

 lums, and a double column with two perfect anthers - y 

 but stranger still, it has, springing from the base 

 of the column, an ordinary filament and two- 

 celled anther containing pollen. In certain species 

 of Orchises there are processes attached to the 

 base of the labellum, which Dr. Robert Brown long 

 ago considered might be the rudiments of suppressed 

 stamens. Dr. Lindley remarked, in reference to 

 this theory, that though extremely probable, it had 

 not yet received confirmation ; but that it would be 



Fig. 73. Diagram of Orchis purpurea 



Fig. 74. Gymnadenia conopsea. 



" conclusively established if the crests of the lip 

 were detected bearing pollen, a circumstance that 

 has not yet been observed." The discovery, there- 

 fore, of a free stamen springing from the axis of the 

 column and labellum is of considerable interest. In 

 fig. 73 there are three labellums and three anthers, 

 the two side ones being quite perfect, and the 

 centre one without pollen proper. In fig. 71 the 

 reverse is found ; for though there are three anthers, 

 the centre one alone is perfect, the two side ones 

 being only one-celled, and containing no pollen. 



I have notes and drawings of several other 

 monstrosities ; of primroses with supernumerary 

 petals, or with one flower inside another; of roses 

 extended into leafy branches ; and others that are 

 both curious and interesting, but which are similar 

 to some I have before described ; and as my paper, 

 too, has grown to a considerable length, I will only 

 select two more examples which are different from 

 the others : these are two specimens of the common 

 garden Nasturtium {Tropaolum majus) which I 

 gathered in 1866. One of them differed from the 

 usual form in having two spurs ; in the other the 

 spur had completely disappeared, and the flower 

 had become regular in every respect. The calyx 

 consisted of five equal lanceolate segments, 

 spreading open, and slightly united at their bases ; 



