354 ORGANOGRAPHY, 



occasionally converted, either entirely or partially, into leaves. 

 We may therefore, consider that the petal, like the sepal and 

 bract, is homologous with a leaf. 



The stamen is, of all the organs, the one which has the least 

 resemblance to a leaf. In describing the structure of the stamen 

 we have shown, however, that the different parts of the leaf 

 may be clearly recognised in those of the stamen. We find 

 moreover, that in many plants the petals become gradually 

 transformed into stamens. This is remarkably tlie case in the 

 White Wuter-Lily {fiy. 43S). In the flowers of this plant the 

 inner scries of petals gradually become narrower, and the upper 

 extremity of each exhibits at first two little swellings, Avhich, in 

 those placed still more internal, become true anthers containing 

 pollen. The fact that the stamens can thus be shown to be 

 merely modified petals, and the latter having been already 

 proved to be modified leaves, it must necessarily follow that the 

 stamens are so also. If we now refer to what takes place in 

 many cultivated flowers, we have conclusive evidence at once 

 afforded to us of the leaf-like nature of stamens. Thus in what 

 are called double flowers, the number of petals is principally in- 

 creased by the conversion of stameris into those organs; hence 

 the number of the latter increases as the former decreases. Thus, 

 if a doul)lc Rose be examined, all sorts of transitions may be 

 observed between true petals and stamens. In other cases, the 

 stamens have been actually transformed into true leaves. The 

 stamen is, consequently, also to be considered as a modification 

 of a leaf. As far as the stamens therefore, we have no difficulty 

 in tracing both in the normal and abnormal conditions of the 

 parts of the flower, a regular and gradual transition from the 

 ordinary leaves, thus forming conclusive evidence of their being- 

 developed upon a common tyjie with them. 



If we now pass to the pistil, we find that transition states 

 between the stamen and pistil are unknown in the normal 

 condition of flowers, the dificrence in the functions i)er- 

 formed by them respectively being so opposite, tliat it 

 necessarily leads to coiTcsponding differences in structure. 

 We must, therefore, look to monstrosities or deviations fi'om 

 ordinary structure, for exani])lcs of such conditions. Even these 

 are by no means common. Such may, however, be occasionally 

 found in the Ilouseleck, some species of Paparer, &c. In 

 a jiaper. published by the author in the Pharmaceutical 

 Journal for March, 1856, a very remarkable instance of this 

 transition from stamens to carpels was described ; it occurred in 

 the Papaier bractcattim. In this case, several whorls of bodies, 

 intcriiiediate in their nature between stamens and carpels, were 

 found between tlie true stamens and pistil. The outer whorls 

 of tilt; internie<liiite bodies difl'ered from the ordinary stamens, 

 in their colour, in being of a more llesliy nature, and in being 

 enlarged at their upper extremity and inner surface into rudi- 



