180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897 



fertilization of Phlox is concerned, every fact pointed to self-action. 

 Insects seem to have no agency whatever in the remarkably prolific 

 results. I have before had occasion to remark that abundant fer- 

 tility in any plant is always a strong indication of self-fertilization. 

 The " dimorphism " referred to might properly be termed polymor- 

 phism. Neither the stamens or pistils can be classed distinctly as long 

 or short, but vary indefinitely. In a white variety of Phlox pyra- 

 midalis I found the style usually about two-thirds the length of the 

 tube. The stamens too, are very variable even on the same plant. 

 At times only one stamen may be seen at the apex of the throat on a 

 second-day fiower. At other times there are three, simulating a 

 three lobed style. There are, however, always to be seen two shorter 

 than the other three. These two lower and shorter are usually 

 near together, but often widely separated, and occasionally one 

 anther will be sterile. The reflecting observer will have no diffi- 

 culty in referring all these variations to the varying degrees of 

 rhythmic energy. Whether a growth-rhythm flows gently or is 

 arrested suddenly, decides the direction and degree of the rebound- 

 ing energy, of which the forms of flowers are but the outward 

 show. 



Referring now to the hypogynous disk, or nectary as it might be 

 fairly called, an examination when the seed capsule is nearly 

 mature, shows it to be formed of a fine-toothed membrane, the lobes 

 of which are opposite to the lobes of the calyx. Under morpholog- 

 ical law we should expect them to be alternate. Separating, how- 

 ever, a nearly mature capsule from the " hypogynous disk," we see 

 by the glass the imprint of five minute scales, alternate with the 

 teeth of the disk ; this furnishes the key to the problem. Between 

 the calyx cycle and the corolla cycle, there are twccycles undevel- 

 oped, of which the " hypogynous disk" is the only manifestation. 

 Nectar-bearing glands are usually abortive organs. 



We may now say that nature makes a Polemoniaceous flower 

 simply through greater irregularity than usual in the intensity of 

 its growth-waves. When the calycine leaves had been reached the 

 growth-waves were weak or they would have been bracts, and so 

 weak that enough force could not be collected to develop the next 

 cycle at all ; a partial recovery resulted only in the " hypogynous 

 disk." The corolla found a fairly steady wave, but all following 

 were unsteady, as shown in the varying lengths of the organs. 

 There should have been five carpels and five lobes to the style, but 



