SYNANTHY. 



39 



ten stamens within a single cup, two styles, and a five- 

 celled ovary. Here, then, it would apf)ear that two 

 segments of tlie perianth, two stamens, and one carpel 

 were suppressed. In a Polyanthus there were nine 

 sepals, nine petals, nine stamens, and a double ovary. 



As an illustration of a more complicated nature 

 reference may be made to three flowers of Aconitum 

 Napellus, figured by A. de Chamisso, ' Linnaaa,' vol. vii, 

 1832, p. 205, tab. vii, figs. 1, 2. In this specimen the 

 two outer blossoms had each four sepals present, namely, 

 the upper hooded one, one of the lateral sepals, and 

 both of the inferior ones ; the central flower had 

 only the upper sepal and one other, probably one of 

 the lower sepals ; thus there were but ten sepals 

 instead of fifteen. The nectary-like petals, the stamens, 

 and pistils were all present in the lateral flowers, but 

 were completely suppressed in the middle one. A 



Fio. 15. Union of three flowers 

 of Calanthe vestita. 



Fig. 16. Sliows the abortion of 

 the central spur in sjnanthic 

 flowers of Calantlie vestita. 



less degree of suppression was exemplified in a triple 

 flower of Calanthe vestita, sent me by Dr. Moore, of 

 Glasne\^in, in which all the parts usually existing in 



