142 ALTERATION OF POSITION. 



in which there was an adventitious formation of leafy 

 shoots in the axil of the outer calyx. In some flowers, 

 such as Convolvulus, Anemone , &c., the exact nature of 

 the sub-floral leaves is uncertain, i. e. it is open to 

 doubt whether the organs in question are bracts or 

 leaves pertaining to the inflorescence, or whether they 

 are really parts of the flower. When leafy shoots are 

 formed in the axils of such organs, the adventitious 

 growth may be referred to extra-floral prolification, 

 prolification of the inflorescence that is, or to axillary 

 prolification, according to the view taken of the real 

 nature of the sub-floral leaves. So far as the mere 

 occurrence of prolification is concerned, it is not very 

 material which view be adopted. The same remark 

 applies to cases where leaf-buds occur on the outer 

 surface of inferior ovaries, as in Rosacece, Pomacece, 

 Philadelphus, or Tetragonia expansa, as elsewhere men- 

 tioned. 



It would seem more consistent with the general 

 arrangements of parts, that the adventitious buds 

 should be formed more frequently outside than within 

 the flower proper. 



Knight^ figures and describes the occurrence of 

 small tubers or fleshy leaf-buds in the axils of the sepals 

 of a potato, a curious illustration of the real morpho- 

 logical nature of the tuber. 



Axillary floral prolification of the flower. As already stated, 

 this is of more common occurrence than the formation 

 of a leaf-bud in a similar situation. Any of the parts 

 of the flower may thus subtend a flower-bud, though 

 probably the new buds more frequently originate in the 

 axils of the sepals than in the other whorls. In 

 Gruciferce the change in question is, relatively speaking,' 

 very common. In cauliflowers and broccoli I have 

 frequently met with stalked flowers proceeding from 

 the axils of the sepals, so also in some fuchsias 

 1 have seen a ring of stalked flower-buds alternating 



' ' Proc. Hoi-t. Sofl.,' vol. i, p. 39, fig. 2. 



