CH. VI.] THE FLOWER. 205 



flowers, such as the sunflower, dahlia, anthemis,. 

 and others, become full by the multiplication of the 

 florets of their rays to the exclusion of the florets of 

 their disks. On the contraiy, various species of the 

 daisy, matricaria, &c., become full by the multiplica- 

 tion of the florets of the disks. 



The multiplicate flower has its petals increased 

 by the conversion of a portion of its stamens, or of 

 its cal}^, into those forms. It occui's most fre- 

 quently in poh^etallous flowers. Linnaeus gives 

 the only instances I know of the conversion of the 

 calyx into petals, and these are to be observed in 

 the pink [Dianthus caryophyllus) and a few of the 

 Alpine gi'asses. 



A proliferous flower has another flower, or a shoot 

 produced from it. This is most strikingly exem- 

 plified by that variety of the daisy popularly known 

 as The-hen-and-chickens. It occurs also more rarely 

 in the ranunculus, pink, marigold, and hawk-weed. 

 A leafy shoot often appears in the bosom of the 

 double-blossomed cherry, anemone, and rose. 



The influences regulating the production and 

 developement of leaves and flowers are these : — If 

 an excess of water to the roots, or too little light to 

 the superior parts of plants be appUed, they produce 

 an increased surface of leaf, and few or no flowers ; 

 for it is a wise power given to them by their 

 Creator, that those parts shall increase in size. 



