Miscellaneous. 



471 



branch, clothed either with common leaves or with transition organs, 

 just as a leaf- bud when called into existence pushes onwards into a 

 branch, the only covering of which consists of leaves in their com- 

 mon state. An attention to this principle will always enable the ob- 

 server to comprehend the real history of the monstrous formations 

 to which flowers are most especially liable. 



From among the many cases of this nature which have been 

 brought under our notice within the last few months, we select for 

 illustration one for which we are indebted to Dr. Bell Salter of Ryde, 

 along with some valuable observations in illustration of it. Some time 

 in July last this gentleman wrote as follows : — 



** An extremely curious monstrosity of a Rose has been recently 

 shown me, which exhibits some facts which I have thought might 



interest some of your readers, as they have interested myself. The 

 fact of the stigmas in Roses becoming leafy has of late been only too 



