122 ALTERATION OF POSITION. 



free central placenta, ihis malformation has been 

 found. 



So also among plants with indefinite inflorescence, 

 prolification seems very frequently to affect those 

 wherein the axis is normally prolonged; thus it is 

 common in Dictamnus, which plant has an internode 

 supporting the pistil; it is frequent among Umbelli- 

 fercBy where the carpophore may be truly considered an 

 axile production; it is common among Bosacece and 

 RanunculacecBi in many of which the axis or thalamus 

 is well-marked, and it is by no means infrequent in 

 the flowers of the Orange, where the floral internodes 

 are also slightly elongated ; on the other hand, there 

 is no case on record in Magnoliacece, and some other 

 orders where the floral part of the axis is at some 

 point or other elongated; still, on the whole, there 

 can be but little doubt that there is a real relation 

 between prolification and the normal extension of the 

 floral internodes. 



Under these circumstances, those instances wherein 

 the parts of the flower become separated one from the 

 other by the elongation of the internodes (apostatis), 

 constitute a lesser degree of the same change, which 

 operates most completely in the formation of a new 

 bud at the extremity of the prolonged axis. Some 

 specimens of Geiim nvale (a plant very liable to become 

 prolified) in my possession show this very clearly. In 

 the wild plant the thalamus is elevated on a short 

 stalk; in the abnormal ones the thalamus is simply 

 upon a longer stalk than usual, or in a more advanced 

 stage of the deviation the lengthened thalamus takes 

 the form of a branch provided with leaves and termi- 

 nated by a flower ; it is noticeable, also, in these speci- 

 mens, that the sepals of the lower flower have assumed 

 entirely the dimensions and appearance of leaves. 



Median prolification has occasionally been recorded 

 in flowers that have, in their ordinary condition, but 

 one carpel, as in Leguminosoe and in Santalacece. In 

 Leguminosce, as also in Amygdalus, it would seem as if 



