130 



ALTERATION OP POSITION. 



from the ovary, is but rarely changed in a prolified 

 flower ; but that this is not a universal rule is shown 

 by proliferous flowers of Geum rivale, where the sepals 

 are usually large and leaf-like, as they likewise are 

 frequently in proliferous roses and pears. 



Fio. 64. Proliferous rose. Hip absent, sepals leafy, stamens wanting, 

 axis prolonged bearing supplementary flower, &c. (Bell Salter). 



Proliferous roses have a special interest, inasmuch 

 as they show very conclusively that the so-called calyx- 

 tube of these plants is merely a concave and inverted 

 thalamus, which, in prolified specimens, becomes ejon- 



