18 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XVII, No. 1, 



The parts were similar to those of the second whorl, but smaller, 

 3.5-4 cm. long by 1.1-1.5 cm. wide, and paler in color. The 

 fourth whorl was in appearance far more petaloid than the first 

 three, (Fig. 2). In shape the parts were obovate and rounded 

 similar to the normal petals ; but the texture was softer, and the 

 size smaller, the dimensions being 4 cm. long and 2.5-3 cm. 

 wide. One member was pale green with a splotch of white on 

 one end, and with a median streak of white ; the next was about 

 two-thirds green, with the remainder white; while the third 

 was nearly one-half white. 



Not only was the perianth abnormal but the sexual organs 

 of the flower also showed a very unusual structure, (Fig. 3). 

 Only one stamen was present, there being no trace of the other 

 iive usually present in Trillium. On comparison with a stamen 

 from a normal flower, the structure was found to be perfectly 

 regular; and a microscopic examination of the pollen showed 

 nothing exceptional in its appearance, (Fig. 5). Furthermore, 

 both in pure water and in water with the addition of a very 

 Httle cane sugar, the pollen grains from this single stamen 

 germinated readily, indicating that they were potentially 

 functional. In contrast to the trimerous arrangement of the 

 parts of the normal flower and also of the perianth of this 

 flower, the pistil showed 4 divisions, (Fig. 3). The pistil was 

 somewhat smaller than is customary; and consisted of 4 

 spreading styles with the well known shape and characteristic 

 stigmatic surface, surmounting the 4 lobed ovary containing 

 4 placentae. The structure of the ovary can best be shown by 

 a diagram of the cross section, (Fig. 4). It will be noted at once 

 that the fourth lobe is smaller than the other three, and some- 

 what deeply constricted from them. Ovules were borne in all 4 

 divisions of the ovary, however, and were perfectly normal as 

 far as could be seen although their functionality was not 

 determined. 



Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the flower is the 

 persistence of the single functional stamen. Forms have been 

 found with the number of sepals increased or with a tetramerous 

 arrangement of the essential parts; but the combination of 

 characters seen in this form, and especially the existence of the 

 single stamen renders this flower rather an unusual one even as 

 a monstrosity. 



