136 WEATHERWAX: MORPHOLOGY OF FLOWERS OF ZEA MAYS 
make a sharp bend near its base in order to take its proper direc- 
tion of growth toward the tip of the ear (TExT Fic. 4). Because 
also of this opposite arrangement of parts, the embryo develops 
on the abaxial side of the grain, and, in following a row, we find 
the alternate grains with their embryos turned toward the base 
of the ear, a thing that does not occur in the ordinary ear. This 
same pairing of the kernels with reference to the position of the 
embryos is noted in the pod corn that occasionally produces two 
grains in a pod. 
An interesting suggestion as to the probable evolution of this 
peculiarity in this variety of sweet corn is offered by the fact that 
‘ B 
Fic. 4. Longitudinal section of female spikelet of Black Mexican sweet com 
{A) and of Country Gentleman sweet corn (B), X12. Ov, functional ovule; 
, co 
m: 
A, aborted flower; Lod, lodicule. (The lodicules are really lateral organs, but, 
rudimentary, they are often sufficiently out of place to show in a median section-) 
in the lower flower rudimentary lodicules are present as if the 
aborted flower of other kinds of maize. If the spikelet with two 
functional female flowers is the primitive one from which 
other type has been developed by abortion of the lower flower 
why should only one of the flowers retain its lodicules? It see™ 
rather more probable that the second functional pistil has resulted 
from the development of the rudimentary one in the aborted lowe 
flower of the typical female spikelet. In support of this bee 
may be added the fact that the lodicules of the functional flow 
