Harris — Polygamy and Certain Floral Abnormalities. 201 



actinomorphic flower in securing insect visits and it seems 

 quite probable that flowers receiving occasional insect visits, 

 as many species of Solanum evidently do, might have the 

 frequency of these visits immediately increased upon the 

 assumption of a zygomorphic habit. 



In jS. rostratum the form of the flower is very constant. 

 In the large series of material which has passed through my 

 hands I have never observed synanthy or any variation 

 worthy of mention in the number, form, or arrangement of 

 the stamens. It is interesting to note, however, that in 

 8. Amazonimn besides the floral variation noted in the de- 

 scriptions of the species Penzig* says: " Ich fand haufig die 

 Corolla durch seitliche Verschmelzung der Lappen vier- oder 

 gar nur drei lappig. Hexamere Bliithen sind auch nicht 



Androecium of Cassia occidentalis. 



selten : in denselben sind dann gewohnlich zwei lano;e und vier 

 kurze Stamina vorhanden." 



In several species of Cassia we have a zygomorphic condi- 

 tion in many respects very similar to that of Solanum. In 

 C . Marylandica and C . occidentalis the androecium is com- 

 posed of two large anthers on long filaments, four central 

 smaller ones and three staminodia above and one more or 

 less reduced stamen below the pistil between the two large 

 stamens. 



In C. occidentalis I have observed the transformation of 

 one of the four smaller stamens into one of the large type. 

 The sterile staminodia sometimes produce well-formed anthers 



Penzig, 0. Pflanzen Teratologic. 2 : 170. 



