E. J. BUTLER. 5 
occurs sometimes in the prolificated male florets, where the centre 
may consist of four or five small, brown, simple or branched ele- 
ments enclosed by the palew. Some of these may be staminodes, 
but the central ones are more probably reduced shoots, as it is 
difficult otherwise to explain the branching. 
Central prolification of the floral axis in plants may be of 
different kinds. It may be what is often described as viviparity. 
‘his term appears to be very loosely applied in teratology. Strictly 
speaking, it implies the germination of the seed while still attached 
to the parent plant. It is also employed to denote sprouting of 
the inflorescence buds under similar conditions. But it is used, 
especially in the case of grasses, to cover cases of virescence of the 
outer floral whorls, or of prolification of the floral axis below the 
gynecium, conditions in which it is difficult to justify the termin- 
ology. Thus Penzig (1894, Vol. IT, p. 465) uses it to specify two 
cases described by Toumey (1891) of malformation in Phlewm pra- 
tense, in one of which the floral glume was prolonged into a leaf, 
and in the other the axis above the glumes was elongated, and 
bore at its apex a perfect flower. It appears probable that many 
cases of so called viviparity in grasses, belong really to the class of 
changes next referred to. 
This is the form of central prolongation of the axis of the flower 
called by Moquin-Tandon ‘‘ median prolification’’ (‘* diaphysis,’’ 
Englemann). ‘Two varieties of this are described by Masters (1862, 
p- 360). In one, the new growth proceeds from between the car- 
pels, which are formed, though they may be much modified. 
In the other the carpels are absent. The new growth is usually a 
flower bud (‘‘ median floral prolification,’’ ‘* floriparous diaphy- 
sis °’), but it may be a leaf bud (‘‘ median frondal prolification ”’; 
‘* frondiparous diaphysis’’). Masters points out that the change 
occurs very frequently in such plants as normally show a tendency 
to prolongation of the floral axis, indicated, for instance, by their 
having, free central placentation, or an enlarged thalamus (Rosacee, 
Ranunculacee), or elongation of the axis between two of the floral 
whorls, as in Dictamnus. ‘The prolification is therefore in Masters’ 
opinion one, not of the pistil, but of the upper segment of the floral 
