120 



ALTERATION OF POSITION. 



have been unable to find recorded any instance of mal- 

 formation among Labiates or Borages at all similar to 



Fig. 60. Flower of Dianthus affected with luedian floral prolification. 



this. It differed from most other examples of prolifi- 

 cation in that the axis was not prolonged, the adven- 

 titious bud occupying precisely the position of the 

 three lobes of the ovary that were absent. The sole 

 remaining carpel had a style and a stigma as perfect 

 in appearance as though the pistil had been complete. 



In a flower of Gonostephium (EpacridacecB) forwarded 

 to me by Mr. Bentham, there was a similar adventitious 

 bud placed by the side of the pistil, but as the latter 

 contained the usual number of cells it is probal51e that 

 the supernumerary bud in this case originated rather 

 from the side than the end of the axis. 



Certain families of plants present this deviation 

 from their ordinary structm^e with greater frequency 

 than others : the following orders seem to be the 

 most frequently aff'ected by it : Banunculacece, Caryo- 



