Harris — Polygamy and Certain Floral Abnormalities. 195 



The occurrence of some plants of S. Oarolinense with an 

 unusually high percentage of staminate flowers has already 

 been pointed out. On several plants of 8. robusium grown 

 at the Garden only staminate flowers were produced. No in- 

 sect visits were noticed but while not very large or highly 

 colored the flowers were visible for some distance and the 

 rosfratutn-like odor was quite strong. 



In S. Carolinense synanthy was observed quite frequently 

 and in almost all stages. Four- and six-merous flowers were 

 abundant. Synanthy has been recorded as common for 

 some other species of the genus and 4- and 6-merous flow- 

 ers seem to occur normally in some species. In one case a 

 partially petaloid stamen, also a not uncommon occurrence in 

 the genus, was seen. 



In S. sisymhrifolium one corolla divided to the base and 

 having on the free edges anther-like structures, more perfect 

 in one case but pollen-bearing in both, was found. According 

 to Penzig staminody of the petals has been quite frequently 

 noted in S. tuberosum. 



In the genus 8olanuin the section Nycterium as defined by 

 Wettstein in Engler and Prantl's Naturliclie Pflanzenf ami- 

 lien contains fourteen species showing a markedly zygomor- 

 phic structure. The stamens are the organs primarily 

 affected, either the lower or the three lower showing a much 

 larger and longer anther which is usually strongly curved 

 upward at the tip. The corolla is in some species regular 

 and in some irregular, the two lower lobes being somewhat 

 produced so as to envelop in the bud the longer, lower, stamen 

 or stamens and pistil. 



The occurrence of a dimorphism in the stamens of Solanum 

 as a teratological phenomenon is not unknown. Todd* says : 

 " The obliquity of the stamens, or their vertical asymmetry 

 as it might be called, appears in S. tuberosum sometimes. 

 I have observed it in the ' peach-blow ' variety ; I have 

 observed it more frequently in S. Carolinense.^^ 



Penzig t says for 8. coimutum Lam.: " Moquin-Tandon 



* Todd, J. E. Ou the Flowers of Solanum rostratum aud Cassia chamae- 

 crista. (Amer. Nat. 16 : 281-87. 1882.; 



t Penzig, O. Pflaijzen Teratologic 2 : 171. 



