96 PROFESSOR HENSLOW, ON A MONSTROSITY 



Fig. 1. is one of the slightest deviations that was noticed from the 

 ordinary state of the flower. It consists in an elongation of the pistil (a), 

 and a general enlargement of its parts, indicating a tendency in them to 

 pass into leaves. This is accompanied by a slight diminution in the size 

 of the central disk. The number of the sepals was either six or seven. 



Fig. 2. is a portion of the ovarium of the same flower opened, in 

 which three of the ovules are somewhat distorted. 



Fig. 3. Here the three valves of the ovarium have assumed a dis- 

 tinctly foliaceous character (a); the same has happened to some of the 

 stamens {b), and to the petals (c) ; but the sepals are unaltered. The 

 central disk has entirely disappeared. 



Fig. 4. This is a still closer approximation to the ordinary state of 

 a proliferous flower bud, when developed. Those parts which would 

 have formed the pistil, if the flower had been completed, are no longer 

 distinguishable, and only a few of the stamens are to be seen, disguised 

 in the form of foliaceous filaments crowned by distorted anthers (h). 



Fig. 5. A slight deviation in one of the petals from the usual 

 character. The fleshy unguis is somewhat diminished, and the fimbriae 

 are becoming green and leaf-like. These are aggregated into three 

 distinct bundles, the middle one being composed of a single strap, 

 and the two outer ones of five straps each, blended together at the 

 base. 



Fig. 6. The line of demarcation between the unguis and the fimbriae 

 has completely disappeared, and the number of the latter is considerably 

 reduced. The whole is more green and leaf-like than fig. 5. 



Fig. 7. The fimbrige reduced to a single strap ; the position of the 

 lateral bundles being indicated by slight projections only. Other in- 

 stances occurred in which the petal appeared as a single undivided 

 uniform green strap. 



Fig. 8. The two exterior whorls of a flower, consisting of seven 

 regularly formed sepals, and eight petals. The latter deviate more or 

 less from the forms represented in fig. 6 and 7. The whole of a green 

 tint, and leaf-like. 



