108 



Miscellaiiea 



and " )■ " terms. The two lincs are added at sight and tlio anti-logarithm foiuul. The sign of 

 each expression, given in hrackets, is a great help to rapid work. 



Using the aunuities for 51, 28 ; 51, 29 ; 52, 28 and 52, 29 with formula (2) I get 121775. 



III. Variation in the Moscatel {Adooca Mosel lateüina, L.). 

 By hexhv whiteiieau. 



The mode of arrangoment of flowers in globose hcads in the Moscatel {Adoxa mosc/ialellina, L.) 

 is often cited a.s an e.xaiuple of packing tlie nia.ximuin niimber of flowers in the niininium of 

 Space. An inflorescence of the Moscatel gcnerally consists of five flowers — oiio ternuual and 

 four lateral. Tlic terminal flower has two bracts, four petals, four branchcd st^imeiis and four 

 carpels ; and each of the lateral flowers possesses three bracts, five petals, five branched stamens 

 and five carpels. This is the most common form of arrangement, but the plant varies con- 

 siderably and the following figiires show tliat only 55 per ceut. of the numbers connted agree 

 with the above description, and 51 other methods of arrangement are noted. 



The number of flowers in the inflore-scence is a variable quantity as well as the number 

 of parts in the periauth, and for the sake of convenience thcse variations are considered 

 separatcly. 



The si)ecimens e.xamined were obtained from three localities, Chislehur.st in Kcnt, Catcrham 

 in Surrey, and Theydon Garnon in Essex. 



I. Variation in the number of flowers in an inflorescence. 



The number of flowers constituting an inflorescence varies from three to tcn. 1071 in- 

 florescences were counted and the following results were obtained : 



