OF THE COMMON MIGNIONETTE. 97 



Figs. 9, 10. These are parts of one and the same flower dissected 

 to shew the several whorls more distinctly. The whole has assumed 

 a regular appearance, and is composed of seven sepals, alternating with 

 seven green strap-shaped petals, which are succeeded by about twenty 

 stamens without any fleshy disk ; the pistil is somewhat metamorphosed. 

 This is perhaps the most remarkable deviation that was noticed from 

 the ordinary state of the flower, and as several examples of it occurred, 

 it is not likely that there is any error in this account of it. It appears 

 to lead us in a very decided manner to the plan on which the flowers 

 of the genus may be considered to be constructed, and to shew us 

 that they are really simple and not compound. 



Fig. 11 to 15, represent the appearances assumed by some of the 

 stamens, indicating various degrees of deviation from the perfect state 

 towards a foliaceous structure. 



There were other circumstances, besides the appearances in figs. 9. 

 and 10, which may lead us to conclude the structvire of the flowers 

 of the genus to be simple and not compound. A compound flower 

 arises from the development of several buds in the axillee of certain 

 foliaceous appendages more or less degenerated from the character of 

 leaves, and consequently these buds and the florets which they develop 

 are always seated nearer to the axis than the foliaceous appendages 

 themselves. If we suppose a raceme of the mignionette to degene- 

 rate into the condition of a compound flower, we must allow for the 

 abortion of the stem on which the several flowers are seated, so that 

 these may become condensed into a capitulum, each floret of which 

 will be accompanied by a bractea, more or less developed, at its base. 

 Let us compare this supposition with the diagrams represented in 

 figs. 16, 17, 18. 



Fig. 16. is an imaginary section of the flower in its ordinary state, 

 (a) the pistil, (b) the stamens on the fleshy disk, (c) the petals, {d) the 

 sepals alternating with them. 



Fig. 17. represents the position of the several buds (e) which com- 

 pose the florets of the flower on the supposition of its being com- 

 pound. Here it will be noticed that these buds alternate with the 



Vol. V. Part I. N 



