no 



The stameas, as is said higher up, keep close to their 

 ordinary shape, but in one case they also appeared to be dialytic 

 so as to show the number 5. As the same thing is to be observed 

 now and then in Luffa ^), in defective androecia of Cucurhita 

 Pepo -), and also occurs in normal flowers of the genus Acti- 

 nostemma ''), it becomes the more acceptable that in the Cucur- 

 hitaceae we have to deal with a pentamerous androecium. 



Only once we found stamens of which the anther appeared 

 petaloid, with the undulating anther-line much narrowed (fig. 

 88). The specimen, which furnished this case of petalody, had 

 been preserved in alcohol, consequently in the most favourable 

 circumstances. In a dried state it would doubtlessly have escaped 

 attention. 



Median foliar prolification (fig. 89). 



In a few of the virescent flowers a very slight projecting 

 point could be seen in the centre of the concave receptacle, in 

 others there spring fi-om this projection a couple of tiny leaves 

 which, however, remain altogether enclosed inside the corolla. 

 This is the very beginning of the prolification: in further stages 

 it is a shoot with leaves, leafbuds and tendrils to 4 cM. length 

 that develops out of the flowers. In some cases 2 to 3 leafy 

 branches come out of the virescent flower which suggests axillary 

 prolification, but the examination shows that the extra branches 

 spring inside the corolla from the proliferating axis. The pro- 

 lifications did not show any flowers, but this may be accounted 

 for by their early stage of development. 



The recognition of the flowers which on account of their 

 green colour and merely vegetative organs do not absolutely 

 contrast with the rest of the plant, is facilitated by the long 

 peduncles and especially by the cordate bract springing from 

 its inferior position and partly clasping the same. This bract, 

 however, is subject to strong reduction. Every now and then 

 we came across tetramerous flowers. 



1) Penzig I, p. 492. 



2) Eichler I, p. 305. 



3) Maout et Decaisne, p. 485. 



