Caryophyllaceæ. 339 



Caryophyllaceæ of which the female flowers are similar to 

 the hermaphrodite flowers in size, as they are in Miniiartia 

 biflora. 



The alterations in the structure of the flowers in indivi- 

 duals of the same species, of which so many examples have 

 been given in the foregoing, will be understood, to a certain 

 extent, if the ontogeny of the flower is known. Those organs 

 which have developed first, or at an early stage, grow most 

 quickly and vigorously in the flower (especially the calyx 

 and pistil and the calyx-stamens), and will have the best 

 chance of becoming developed, should any check occur; 

 while the last-developed or slow-growing organs may become 

 dwarfed, or are even completely suppressed — all according 

 to the point of time when the check occurred. In the pro- 

 tandrous flowers it is the corolla-stamens which are sup- 

 pressed whenever the androecium is reduced, which is in 

 perfect harmony with the ontogeny. In the protogynous 

 flowers the pistils hasten as usual, and attain full maturity 

 before the stamens, and so, if the check occurs very early, 

 a purely female flower may be produced. 



The size of the flowers evidently has also a certain con- 

 nection with the longevity of the individual: annual species 

 generally have smaller flowers than perennials; this is also 

 confirmed with regard to the Caryophyllaceæ as a whole. 

 Further, the numbers in the flowers are dependent on the size 

 of the flowers. But the causal conditions are still problematic 

 in many respects, viz., with regard to the dependency of the 

 form of the flower on the prevailing conditions, especially 

 those relating to nutrition. Dichogamy or pleogamy in the 

 Caryophyllaceæ must, as a whole, be regarded rather as a 

 sign of weakened constitution, or of" unfavourable conditions 

 of life, than as an advantage. 



