104 PROrESSOB HENSLOW OK A MONSTROUS 



On a Monstrous Development in Habenaria cJilorantha. By the 

 Eev. J. S. Henslow, E.L.S., Prof. Bot. in the University of 

 Cambridge. (Tab. I. B.) 



[Read June 16th, 1857.] 



The specimen was gathered at Gramlingay in Cambridgeshire on 

 May 25, 1857. The monstrosity to be described was confined to 

 a single (the lowest) flower of the spike, of which about half the 

 flowers were expanded. An enlarged drawing of the flower ac- 

 companies the description (Plate I. B, fig. 1). 



The anterior sepal is united with one of the lateral sepals. 

 This gives a slight obliquity to the flower, especially shown at 

 the base of the lip. 



Instead of the usual two anther-lobes on the edges of a widely- 

 expanded connective, there are four anther-lobes here developed. 

 These are associated in pairs, and to all appearance belong to two 

 stamens placed before the lateral petals, or, in other words, alter- 

 nating with the anterior and lateral outer segments of the perianth. 

 Admitting Mr. B. Brown's view of orchid structure, these stamens 

 must belong to the inner whorl ofthree, of which the third, contiguous 

 to the lip, is wholly suppressed. K the two anthers in the present 

 specimen were confluent, and their anterior lobes suppressed, 

 we should have the structure exhibited by H. chlorantha. But if 

 the posterior lobes were suppressed, the result would offer the 

 general aspect of S. hifolia ; only the pollen masses in the anterior 

 lobes in this specimen have not their caudiculae terminated by 

 retinacula. It should seem the development has not been com- 

 plete ; for there is a cavity just below the extremities of the cau- 

 diculae, in which a mass of retinaculum has been formed, as though 

 the supply for two had coalesced, and been cut off" by a bursicula- 

 like lobe which intervenes between them and the caudiculae. 



The lateral staminodia («'.) are well formed, and extend a little 

 behind the contiguous fertile stamens. There is also a projection {s) 

 resembling a staminodium between the fertile stamens. It is in 

 connexion with the bursicula-like lobe ; and the bases of the con- 

 tiguous anther-lobes are brought down in front of it. It therefore 

 seems to be a staminodium belonging to the same outer whorl 

 as the usual two well-marked staminodia ! These appearances, if 

 here correctly explained, are suggestive ; and I venture to put the 

 following questions : — 



1. May not the two anther-lobes (in this genus and others, as 



