Mr. J. Lowe on Salix Andersoniana. 



255 



phoses of the Pistil of Salix Caprea.^^ A short time since, I ob- 

 served a corresponding set of changes occurring in the male 

 flowers of Salix Andersoniana. These, as forming, with those 

 of Mr. Leefe, a complete series of morphological changes, may 

 not be unworthy the Society^s notice. The changes observed by 

 Mr. Leefe in Salix Caprea consist of a gradual conversion of the 

 pistilline into staminal organs, each step in the process being 

 clearly explained by the plate which is given with his paper iu 

 the 1st volume of the Society's ' Transactions.' 



In the present specimens we have just the opposite, viz. the 

 stamens becoming converted into ovaries, and this by every con- 

 ceivable gradation. 



The plant from which these were taken grows about half a 

 mile below Cramond Bridge near Edinburgh ; it is to all appear* 

 ance strong and healthy, and in the majority of its flowers there 

 was no observable alteration. 



Fig. 1. is a floret whose filaments are partially united at the 

 base ; in other respects it is perfectly normal. The scales and 

 glands in this as in the other florets present nothing unusual. 



Fig. 2. The stamens still further united, giving the filament 

 a forked appearance. 



Fig. 3. represents one of the stamens of the last figure con- 

 verted into an ovary which bears a pollen-mass on its inner 

 edge ; the other stamen is unaltered. 



Fig. 4. A still more advanced condition. The ovary has no 

 vestige of pollen-cells, but at the base is the remaining anther, 

 sessile. 



Fig. 5. shows each stamen converted into a carpel and bear- 

 ing an antherine mass. The styles have each but one stigma. 



Fig. 6. The two ovaries are here nearly united, but have a 

 fissure superiorly in which are the remains of the anthers. The 

 styles are distinct and monostigmatous. 



Fig. 7. The fissure seen in last figure has disappeared by the 



