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318 ON POLLINIFEROUS OVULES IN A ROSE. 
abnormal development which takes place in separate parts of flowers 
otherwise normal in their position. 
The abnormal specimens of Oplirys aranifera, Huds., parts of which 
are represented at Fig. A 1, 2, 3, are subject to the second of these con- 
ditions, the petal being attached to the back of the stigmatic cavity by 
its outward edge. This edge divides from below, and then presents the 
appearance of the lowest part of the valves of the anther-cell (Fig. 1). 
Fig. A 2 exhibits a more advanced stage, where one cell of the anther is 
completely formed (Fig. 2), and contains the pollen-mass (Fig. lb). 
At Fig. 2 c, part of the stigmatic cavity, with the petal sutured on to it, 
is shown from the side nearest the normal anther. The gland and ros- 
tellum are wanting, as they are in all similar cases which I have ex- 
amined. The specimen drawn at Fig. A3, 3 a, had the second anther 
perfect in all respects, except that glands and rostellums were absent ; 
the petal, out of which it was formed, being completely metamorphosed. 
Professor II. G. Reichenbach figures an example of the partial 
change of a petal into an anther in his ' Icones,' xiii. t. 112, 464, f. 2. 
Fig. A 4, 4 a, represent a triandrous form of Ophrys aranifera, Huds., 
for the abnormal characters of which I should certainly refer to a fusion 
of two flowers, accompanied by suppression and modification. 
The stigmatic cavity is greatly distorted, but the parts are other- 
wise normal in position and appearance. 
All the specimens treated of were gathered at Mentone in February, 
1866. 
ON POLLINIFEROUS OVULES IN A ROSE (ROSA 
A R VENS1S) . 
By Maxwell T. Masters, M.D., F.L.S. 
(Plate LXXII. B.) 
(Read September 6, 1867, before the British Association at Dundee.) 
Among the many and varied permutations that take place 
organs of plants, none are more interesting than those which affect w 
ovule. The main interest arises not so much from the structura con- 
formation of the organ in question, as from the peculiarities atten ing 
its development and the functions it has to fulfil. These are points 
