Poly gala polygama and P. paiiciflora. 1 39 



the same position as in the former case, and is a receptacular 

 development shehered by the posterior sepal. To the naked 

 eye it is visible as a prominent bilobed papilla. In section it 

 appears as a many layered cell-mass, receiving branches of 

 the vascular system. 



B. Cleistogamic Flower. 



At the same time that the conspicuous flowers appear slen- 

 der, lateral branchlets arise from the leafy shoots near the 

 surface of the soil, bearing a small number of minute flowers. 

 Oddly enough, these branchlets seem as a rule to be apogeo- 

 tropic, though no exact experiments have yet been attempted. 



Only one or two of these lateral branchlets are produced 

 from one axis, and rarely more than three flowers are borne 

 by either of them, so that the number of cleistogamic flowers 

 is very small. The contrast in size between these and the 

 evident flowers is great, the former measuring scarce a milli- 

 meter in length. 



Calyx. — Five sepals are represented. The lateral ones — 

 wings of the evident flowers — are about twice the size of the 

 other three, which are nearly uniform. All are deciduous. 

 Stomata are present on all, and quite abundantly on the outer 

 surfaces. 



Corolla. — There is no trace of any of the petals except the 

 anterior. This is represented by a small process. 



Andrcccinm. — The six stamens of the chasmogamic flower 

 are commonly all represented, always some of them being in 

 a more or less rudimentary condition. The microspores are 

 also reduced in size, measuring about twenty-five [i in 

 diameter. 



Gyncecium. — Here the reduction in size is also relatively very 

 great. The style has almost disappeared, and the ov'ary is 

 about one-fifth the length of that of the chasmogamic flower. 

 No glandular hairs are present. 



