LIFE-HISTORY AND PHYSIOLOGY. ig 



die away, and the life-cycle is completed with the new corm in the condition of 

 rest, at which the life-history of the plant was commenced. 



Morphosis. Nearly every organ of a Crocus has a strong tendency to 

 metamorphosis; generally in an ascending order of change. The case most familiar 

 is the partial conversion of the stamens into pistils, by the presence of a terminal 

 stigmatic appendage to the anther, as in figs. 3 and 4, Plate D. In Crocus monte- 

 negrinus (Plate XXIII, and Plate D, fig. 5), originally named by Kerner C. 

 appendiculatus, this seems to be constant. 



The segments also become stigmatic, and also stameniferous. Fig. 1, Plate D, 

 represents a monstrous form of C. sativus cultivated by Monsieur Chappellier, of 

 Paris, in which the whole of the segments are converted into pistils and stamens; 

 a. a. a. are the proper pistils, b. b. b. the proper stamens, c. c. c. are stamens representing 

 the inner whorl of segments, and d. d. d. pistils representing the outer whorl of 

 segments; the partial conversion of the inner segments into stamens is represented 

 in Fig. 2, Plate D. 



This remarkable case has been described in detail by Monsieur M. P. Duchartre 

 (Note sur des Safrans a fleur monstreuse, Journ. Soc. Centrale d' Horticulture de 

 France 3rd. Ser. 1. 1879, P- 47 1 — -480)- M. Chappellier is endeavouring to turn this 

 monstrous form of C. sativus to economic account, in the increased production of 

 Saffron from the segments. 



A somewhat similar case of morphosis occurs in a beautiful golden banded 

 variety of C. vernus, sent me by Miss C. M. Owen, Knochmullen, Gorey, Ireland, in 

 which a bright golden stigmatic band runs up the centre of each outer segment; 

 and in another example from Miss Owen's garden, the inner segments are 

 stameniferous, and the proper spathe is developed as a perianth segment. (Fig. 6, 

 Plate D.) From Miss Owen's garden I have also received a specimen of the Dutch 

 yellow Crocus (C. aureus var.) with the spathe bearing an anther, and with a 

 stigmatic segment; also of C. aureus, with two ovaries and flowers on a single 

 scape; of C. vernus, with the stamen partially developed as a segment; and of C. 

 vermis, in which the style is divided at the throat, and produced into long, nearlv 

 entire stigmata, reaching to the level of the summit of the anthers. 



Fig. 7, Plate D, represents the dissected spathes and leaves of a monstrous form 

 of C. asturicus, in which one of the proper leaves is converted into an extra basal 

 spathe. 



