MONSTROSITIES. 125 
miterete ; these leaves have their backs away from the axis: 
they are generally somewhat petaloid in colour. 
The stamina in all the stages except those of complete 
transformation of the flower into a leafy branch, are much 
averse to change, although they would appear to be void 
of any efficiency of function; occasionally one or more disap- 
pear, and on those occasions in which I have found only 
four, those four have been opposite the petals. When the 
number is complete, they appear somewhat dislocated, the 
four not being exactly opposite to the petals; they vary in 
length, but very generally the two shortest are opposed 
to two sepals. In those flowers much transformed, the fila- 
ments appear pointed near the base, the basilar part being 
stout and fleshy, the remainder withering. 
The pistillum undergoes two changes, it is either gradu- 
ally. converted into two leaves, in which case it is generally 
empty; or it is in itself unchanged, but with its contents 
quite changed. Every step of its dialysis is traceable, as 
well as of its structure, and the continuation of the stigmata 
. with the placentze; the separation of the carpellary leaves 
takes place from above downwards, and when complete, its 
leaves are opposite. 
The axis is prolonged (at a farther change) beyond the 
base of its leaves, two other nearly opposite leaves being 
produced, and beyond these are buds of branches, aggre- 
gated together; when the transformation is complete, a more - 
or less perfect branch is formed, and this may be effect- 
ed without any dislocation of the floral envelopes, or much 
change in the stamina; or the change and dislocation may 
be considerable; generally in this case the apex of the 
branch originally occupied by a flower, becomes occupied by* 
a rosette aggregation of leaves. 
'The degree of change of the ovule may be ascertained by 
the appearance of the pistillum ; if this is near its natural 
shape, the ovule will be found little, if at all changed, the 
change taking place from bottom to top? But when the 
pistillum is turgid, shortened and wrinkled, or rugose exter- 
nally, the ovules will be found changed ; the steps of their 
