( 808 ) 



In other words, we may .say tluit an irell In the uinbel as in the 

 timbelluh the bisexual flowers always occiqn/ the place wldch is most 

 favourable loith respect to nutrition. 



That terminal umbellules and flowers are placed most favourably 

 is evident; it can be readily explained why a top-umbellule is often 

 richer in bisexual flowers than other umbellules from the centre 

 and why as a rule the top-flower of the umbellule is hermaphrodite. 



That this position is by far the most advantageous can also be 

 inferred from the fact that often the top-flower is the only bisexual 

 one of the whole umbellule. So with Meum athamanticuni e.g. it is 

 very often found that in tiie umbels of the second order, the 6 — 8 

 inner umbellules possess no bisexual flowers at all ; the only bisexual 

 flower of these umbellules is the top-flower. ^) 



So we see exactly the opposite from what we should observe if 

 the andro-monoecious plant represented an ever-sporting variety like 

 Trifolium pratense quiriquefoliam. It is not the male flower — the 

 anomaly — which is preferably found in the best places, but the 

 bisexual flower, and on further examination of the above points 

 1, 2 and 3 we shall again see how it is this latter that depends 

 on the nutritive conditions and in all respects behaves like a character 

 in a semi-latent condition opposed to the active condition of the 

 anomaly. 



I pointed out already that with all andro-monoecious Umbelliferae 

 the umbel of the first order shows the anomaly least. 



With very many forms the male flower appears first in the umbels 

 of the second order, with others in those of the third order, and 

 sometimes it is the umbel of the fourth order in which the male 

 flower appears first. 



But where these flowers are already observed in the umbels of 

 the first order their number is there always less than in the umbels 

 of the second and higher orders. 



The umbel of the first order consequently retains in all andro- 

 monoecious Umbelliferae the pure racial character longest. 



If we remember that the umbel of the first order is at the same 

 time the terminal umbel of the plant and is extremely favourably 

 placed at the end of the principal axis with regard nutrition, we 

 cannot wonder at this, bearing in mind what was said when 



lion. I shall return to it elsewhere when exposing the differences between the 

 forms occurring in this country and those (hat have been observed in other parts 

 of Europe. 



') This i-cniinds us of what may be noticed with Echinophora spinosa. Vide 

 supra. 



