GOETHE ON THE METAMORPHOSIS OF PLANTS. 341 
"56. Still more striking and remarkable alterations are produce ced in 
^i petals of different plants. A small cavity, filled with a honey-like 
liquid, occurs in the inner base of some flowers. This cavity is much 
deeper i in some families and species than in others, and is elongated at 
the back of the petal in the shape of a spur or horn, the rest of the 
petal being also more or less modified in form. The genus z Aquilegia i is 
a good example of this.* 
57. The nectary is most disguised in Aconitum and Nigella, but 
even here its similarity to the ‘ leaf-form’ may be perceived by a little 
attention ; ; it has a strong tendency in Nigella to become petaloid, the 
flower becoming double from the altered nectaries. In Aconitum the 
resemblance of the nectaries to the helmet-shaped sepal, beneath which 
they are concealed, is evident. 
58. Having observed above that the nectaries may be considered as 
transitional organs between petals and stamens, we may here introduce 
a few remarks on irregular flowers. In Melianthus the five outer divi- 
sions may be described as true petals, ‘and the five inner ones as an 
accessory corolla consisting of six nectaries, of which the superior one 
is most like the petals, whilst the inferior one, commonly called the 
nectary, most differs from them. In the same sense the keel of papi- 
lionaceous flowerst might be called a nectary, since of all the petals 
it is nearest in form to the stamens, whilst it differs widely from the 
leaf-like form of the standard (v exillum). Thus also the brush-like 
from the ordinary stamens iid in the breadth of the filament. Anthers so placed 
are commonly met with in some of the double Narcissi. 
_ Schlei Ranu nculus and Parnasst the scales 
ume, and the crown of the reri are secondary Freue pem sn 
petals, and inet independant foliar organs ; but, on Ci to be replaced by anthers 
of the er of the Passion-flower have rv 
(Moquin- Tandon, E aa Végétale, p 220), while in Pasrifone A a à 
tays combined into.a cup, like that of r that elia, except 
am some others of t Si we 
DI on r anthers. In Saponaria 8 
have remarked the scales of the corona a bearing though they were ee 
ferable to the adhesion of two stamens, the sem of which are usually w anting 
(ourn. Linn. Sor, i. 1857, p. 199). 
ier da Aasra seaquipeseles A an Orchid native of 
Sures nearly a foot Min th s 
m: " i by Goethe mentarios, d inthe Aconite, Nigella, ete., are now con 
sidered peal the outer pieces as ite of their sour a orn. n 
the Wi í s hyemali piaeas may so! 
tag ta m loue sepa mdi tesa : pe petals | (aretacij 
nthe MR palin Sis evidently formed, by the 
Madagascar, the nectary mea- 
